Los Angeles Lakers rookie guard Bronny James scored his first career NBA basket during a road game against his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.
It was a blowout loss for the Lakers against the Cavs, where LeBron James spent two different chapters of his NBA career. The most memorable moment of the game was when Bronny finally earned his first regular-season basket.
While it was an awesome accomplishment for Bronny, there was a surprising decision made after the game. The Cavaliers gave the rookie the net that was used on his first regular-season basket, which is a gesture usually reserved for when teams win the championships.
Bronny James left with the net from the basket he scored his first NBA points on tonight. Really cool gesture by the #Cavs. pic.twitter.com/wL9EbjK5Fh
— Danny Cunningham (@RealDCunningham) October 31, 2024
This was a special moment for Bronny, who basically grew up in that arena when his father played for the team. He may not get many opportunities for scoring much more soon, either, as he will soon play in the G League.
So we asked our staff what they thought of this decision by Cleveland.
What was your initial reaction when you saw this?
Michael D. Sykes: This was a pretty nice gesture from the Cavs, but it’s also kind of funny. Did someone just win a championship, or????
Prince Grimes: LOL
Blake Schuster: To laugh at the treatment given to a player that no one else would have ever gotten.
Robert Zeglinski: A cackle followed by a requisite eye roll.
Bryan Kalbrosky: I was frankly glad to see that someone has finally dethroned UConn as men’s back-to-back national champions!
What should Cleveland have done?
Michael D. Sykes: Nothing! The crowd had already given him an ovation and cheered for his first points. I think that’s more than enough for Bronny. He felt the love, I’m sure.
Prince Grimes: I didn’t have a problem with the net-cutting, only because it was Cleveland. Otherwise, I would say nothing. It was only funny because my brain associates net-cutting with winning a championship.
Blake Schuster: Look, I’m not trying to be a hater. It’s really cool that Bronny did this in Cleveland and even cooler that the crowd reacted the way it did. But cutting down the nets after a blowout loss is pretty cringe. Give Bronny a game ball in the locker room. Let LeBron hand it to him. Make it a moment, but let’s also stay in the right lane here.
Robert Zeglinski: The Cavaliers have a lifelong debt to LeBron James (for spurning them, then coming back) so they should actually grovel every chance they get. Abandon all concepts of self-respect.
Bryan Kalbrosky: They probably workshopped retiring his jersey and putting a statue of him next to the one they will eventually build out for LeBron, but I’m glad they realized that was a step too far.
What is a milestone for Bronny that deserves a red carpet?
Michael D. Sykes: He’ll be in the G League soon. So if he can actually get people to tune into G League games, feel free to give him another pat on the back.
Prince Grimes: The Lakers should do a whole Jumbotron presentation of his garbage time highlights on the night he gets his first start.
Robert Zeglinski: Plays any (read: absolutely any) non-garbage time minutes. Make him an MVP candidate for it.
Bryan Kalbrosky: They ought to do this for him at every arena if he scores. That doesn’t just include the NBA, by the way. When he is suiting up for the South Bay Lakers in the G League and goes 1-for-6 against the Sioux Falls Skyforce, he deserves that net as well. That is the G League affiliate for the Miami Heat, where LeBron won championships as well. It makes sense.
