Bronny James’ name trending after LeBron James calls Will Anderson Jr. his twin

LeBron James jokes Will Anderson Jr. is Bronny’s twin at ESPYs

Bronny James found himself back in the spotlight on Thursday when LeBron James jokingly called Houston Texans pass rusher Will Anderson Jr. his son’s twin during the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.

The moment came just days after the Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Anderson attended Game 6 and posted a video of himself helping James up off the floor with the caption “a freaking legend.” James responded by calling Anderson an “unbelievable football player” and later told reporters Anderson was “my 4th child” and that he and Bronny were twins no one noticed.

What happened at the ESPYs

At the ESPYs on 17 Jul 2026, Anderson addressed the playful comparison on X, formerly Twitter. “Usually I would feel offended if another grown man called me his son,” he said. “But I was like, ‘It’s LeBron James, so that’s G.O.A.T.ed.’” The clip, posted by Sports Illustrated, quickly went viral, pushing Bronny James into trending topics across social platforms.

The resemblance between Anderson and Bronny had already sparked memes during the Lakers-Rockets series. Anderson’s Instagram video of James stumbling on the court became a highlight, with the NBA superstar later calling him an “unbelievable football player.” The exchange capped a week where Bronny James’ name surfaced in pop culture moments tied to his father’s star power.

Why it matters for Bronny James

For Bronny James, the attention isn’t about his own play-he’s entering his third NBA season without LeBron on the same roster for the first time. Instead, it’s another reminder of the family’s outsize cultural footprint. LeBron’s joke reframed Anderson’s viral moment into a crossover story linking the NBA and NFL, two of America’s biggest sports leagues.

The exchange also underscores how Bronny’s public identity remains intertwined with his father’s legacy. Even when the topic isn’t basketball, his name trends because of LeBron’s reach. That visibility cuts both ways: it keeps him in the conversation but risks overshadowing his own career trajectory.

What comes next for Bronny James

Bronny James is set to begin his third NBA season with the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s expected to play a bigger role offensively after averaging 4.8 points in his rookie year and 4.1 as a sophomore. The Lakers’ front office has emphasized patience, but the pressure to justify his draft position grows with each passing campaign.

Meanwhile, LeBron James remains a free agent after declaring for free agency in June. His next move will shape Bronny’s environment once again-whether in Cleveland, Miami, or elsewhere. For now, the spotlight keeps landing on Bronny, even when the story starts with someone else’s joke.