LeBron James stirred controversy Sunday when he sat during the national anthem at his son Bronny’s collegiate debut.
The NBA superstar walked into the Galen Center in Los Angeles with his daughter at the start of the song before taking a seat. He appeared to leave his hat on during the entire anthem.
Orange County Register reporter Luca Evans, who caught the incident on video, claimed LeBron James frequently enters games during the anthem to limit his exposure, telling critics to “stop it.”
“LeBron has done this for YEARS in Bronny’s time at Sierra Canyon,” Evans wrote on X. “It’s objectively the best time to walk in so he doesn’t cause a massive stir.”
Despite Evans’s plea, commentators piled on Lebron after video of him sitting during the anthem surfaced on social media.
“Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star,” political commentator Collin Rugg said on X, formerly Twitter.
Bronny resumed playing basketball after suffering cardiac arrest in July. The University of Southern California guard was practicing for the Trojans when he collapsed due to a congenital heart defect.
Bronny finished with 4 points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block in his debut. The freshman came off the bench in the first half and played on a minutes restriction.
I just want to say I’m thankful for everything,” Bronny said, according to ESPN. “Mayo Clinic, everything they helped me with, my parents, siblings for supporting me through this hard time in my life.”
Following the game, LeBron championed his son’s efforts.
“Can’t even tell y’all how EMOTIONAL today was for me! I’m literally drained and all I can say is Bronny you’re simply INCREDIBLE!!” LeBron posted on Instagram. “Damn the wins and loses that will occur. You’ve already won the ultimate goal/championship and that’s LIFE!!! Proud of you kid and today you’ve given me more life!”
Bronny’s teammate, Boogie Ellis, claimed the young guard is built for the spotlight.
“I feel like he embraces that. He put in the work and he’s a great player,” Ellis said, according to ESPN. “He handles it very well.”
“It’s definitely a whirlwind and a lot of emotions for our family this summer,” Lebron James previously said. “But the best thing we have is each other. And we stuck behind each other and gave Bronny strength throughout the whole process, and we’re happy to see where he is today. And we look forward to seeing what his future still has in store for him.
Orange County Register reporter Luca Evans, who took the original video, responded to the criticism and added that this is the same time LeBron walked to seats for games when Bronny was in high school.
“I think the most important thing, who cares about the win or the loss, the kid was standing tall and standing strong at the end of the game,” LeBron said after the game about his son’s performance. “That is a blessing in its own right, and that is a win. He’s won at life, and everything else at this point is extra credit.”
LeBron posted on his Instagram account after the game to congratulate Bronny on his first college basketball game.
Bronny and the Trojans head on the road to take on Auburn on Sunday. Next up for LeBron and the Los Angeles Lakers is the San Antonio Spurs, with road games tonight and Friday.
