LeBron James Won’t Allow Bronny To Call Him ‘Dad’ on the Court

Among the options of allowed on-court names include ‘2-3,’ ‘Bron,’ and ‘GOAT.’

August 28, 2024

Bronny James and LeBron James — (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images)

When Bronny James steps on the court with his dad, LeBron James, he won’t be able to call him dad, according to LeBron himself.

LeBron made the declaration on an upcoming episode of The Shop. In a clip shared from the new installment, LeBron kept it real about his new teammate. "No, he can't [call me dad]," he "Cannot call me 'dad' in the workplace. Once we leave out the private facility and the gates close, I can be 'dad' again."

"In the car, if we ride together, at home, I could be 'dad,’” LeBron continued. “No, he gotta call me like, '2-3' or 'Bron.'"

LeBron admitted that he will let Bronny call him “G.O.A.T.” — but he reiterated that he does not want to hear is son call him a father figure in the middle of a game.

"We cannot be running down the court and he'd be like, 'Dad, I'm open! Dad, come on!' No you cannot do that,” LeBron joked.

Bronny can add LeBron’s rule to the list of things that he’ll have to contend with in his rookie season. The main thing that he’ll have to focus on is the pressure tht comes with being the son of one of the NBA’s best players of all time — something that former NBA player Nick Young had some advice for last month on X.

"Bronny is not a 3 and D guy stop just saying stuff to be polite Bronny can play ball just take them wash ass bad luck Tyler Perry braids out lol," posted Nick Young (on X). "Play with the confidence of Thanasis like I wish a mf would say something to me and yo ass is cut or fire .. play with the confidence of my dad own the nba what they gonna do to me.. have fun out there and miss with confidence that shit will start falling."

Even with everyone watching his every move, Bronny isn’t listening to those criticizing him — according to his dad anyway.

“I don't know if people really understand Bronny," said LeBron in an interview with ESPN. "He doesn't care. I actually cared a little bit when I came in, I wanted people to like me, and some of the things that people were saying about me kind of bothered me early on in my career... Bronny, he doesn't give a fuck."