Bronny James is not an ordinary late second-round selection; he has faced heavy criticism, largely due to carrying the legendary LeBron James name without possessing his father’s level of talent. Despite this, the Los Angeles Lakers signed him to a guaranteed four-year contract, further intensifying accusations of nepotism.

On Friday night, during the Lakers’ matchup against the Denver Nuggets, Bronny had to take on a bigger role than usual with both Luka Doncic and LeBron James unavailable. During the game, a fan in the Ball Arena crowd heckled him, drawing the rookie guard’s attention.

However, Bronny is growing into his own and refusing to let the criticism affect him. Instead, the young Lakers guard fired back with a witty remark, turning the insult back on the heckler.

“Yo chain fake,” James said with a playful grin, as shared by the HOOPER account on X (formerly Twitter).

While the general advice in these situations is to ignore hecklers rather than give them the attention they seek, Bronny has every right to respond, especially when the taunts go too far.

Although Bronny may not be at his father’s level yet, he is carving out his own professional basketball path. He wasn’t just randomly added to the Lakers’ roster; his time in the G-League has demonstrated his potential, and with continued development, he could grow into a productive NBA player.

Escaping his father’s enormous shadow may be a challenge, but the Lakers are giving Bronny time to progress at his own speed. At just 20 years old, he has plenty of room to improve.

James has shown potential as a combo guard with solid shooting, playmaking, and defensive abilities. While becoming a superstar is unlikely, securing a reliable rotation spot is a respectable achievement for a late draft pick.