One of the NBA season’s underrated stories so far has been Bronny James’s growth. As the son of one of the greatest NBA players, he remains in the limelight more than the average late-second-round draft pick, but he isn’t covered 24/7 like the sport’s premier athletes.
Bronny James Meets Iconic LeBron James Rival on the Court
As a result, his quiet rise into a solid rotational player, with strong defensive instincts and a jumper that is coming along well, has earned him increased opportunities with the Los Angeles Lakers. However, he’s earning rave reviews for the work he’s putting in with his franchise’s G-League team, where he came across a foe who was wildly familiar with his father.
In what many consider among the best years of LeBron James’ iconic career, his legend reached new heights during the postseason, when he carried the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Finals. That journey began against an Indiana Pacers squad that pushed James to seven games in the first round, including a masterful buzzer-beater from the four-time NBA Champion to send them packing.
That Pacers squad was led by former Most Improved Player award winner Victor Oladipo, who emerged as an elite guard that season and earned two All-Star nods in his career. After eight years, Oladipo once again crossed paths with a James, only this time it was the four-time MVP’s son.
During a matchup between the South Bay Lakers and the Wisconsin Herd, James was at the forefront of the conversation, thanks to a nasty ankle breaker on his father’s former rival in an all-around solid effort.
He finished the game with 15 points, five assists, and three rebounds in 34 minutes. Shooting 6-of-13 from the field with a plus-six box plus-minus in his minutes, he was an overall advantage for the Lakers on the night. But the story of the game remained the ankle breaker, which caught attention everywhere. Now, after being called up for a game against the San Antonio Spurs, reporters asked the sophomore about his move.
Bronny James reacts to crossing over Victor Oladipo, who battled LeBron James in the NBA Playoffs earlier in his career: pic.twitter.com/JWQRSaN2XR
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 11, 2026
Remaining casual, he said it “felt normal.” Rather than focus on the gravitas of facing a former playoff competitor, he took it as any other opponent. “Just another player I’m playing, so normal.”
Since his days in Indiana, Oladipo has fallen victim to a ton of injuries that have derailed his career. As a result, he’s spent time with the Houston Rockets and the Miami Heat, and now finds himself battling for a spot in the NBA as he grinds it out in the G-League.
