LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles Lakers guard Ron Harper used the NBA’s All-Star Weekend spotlight to take a lighthearted swipe at LeBron James’ well-publicized efforts to play alongside his son Bronny.
During the Shooting Stars event on Feb. 14, 2026, Harper lined up with his sons Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper — both currently on NBA rosters — and was asked if he had always expected his children to reach the league. “I’m not LeBron James; I’m not going to tell my kids what they have to do,” Harper responded, drawing surprise from his sons and laughter from the crowd.
The remark quickly circulated on social media, prompting Harper to clarify his intentions less than 24 hours later. “It was a joke, relax folks,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Feb. 15.
Harper’s quip contrasted with comments he posted on Jan. 30, 2025, when he defended James for helping Bronny pursue his NBA dream: “@KingJames all these dummies are mad at you for giving your kid a chance to chase his dreams I would do the same thing too!!!!! It’s ok to be a proud dad..”
LeBron, now 41, was selected to his record-extending 22nd All-Star Game this year. Bronny, drafted in the second round in 2024 after a heart issue limited his lone season at USC, has seen limited minutes with the Lakers but has shown progress in his second NBA campaign.
Not every All-Star Weekend sound bite involved criticism. Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić offered praise for James’ sustained excellence, noting the difficulty of performing at such a high level into his 40s.
The All-Star festivities concluded with no further comment from the James family regarding Harper’s joke.
Source: LakersNation.com
