The New York Knicks held a championship ring ceremony and banner-raising event at home yesterday, celebrating their first title in 53 years. Unexpectedly, however, Los Angeles Lakers youngster Bronny James—who was nowhere near the arena—became the center of attention. During an NBC broadcast, renowned comedian and die-hard Knicks fan Tracy Morgan took a jab at Bronny, claiming he looked like a “community college-level” player, leaving the 22-year-old to catch some unprovoked heat.
Morgan, a former cast member of the iconic sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, was a guest on the broadcast covering the Knicks’ championship celebration. In the middle of the conversation, he suddenly set his sights on Bronny, remarking bluntly, “Bronny looks like a community college basketball player! I’m just saying how I feel.”
By “community college” (often referred to as “JUCO” in the U.S.), Morgan was implying that Bronny lacks the skill set required for the NBA. The clip of his comments quickly went viral on social media.
Ironically, Bronny wasn’t even playing that day, nor was he present at Madison Square Garden; meanwhile, his father, LeBron James, was playing his first official game since joining the Philadelphia 76ers.
In reality, Bronny’s recent performance has indeed been underwhelming. Selected 55th overall in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, he is now entering his third season (counting his time at the collegiate level). Over his first four preseason games, he logged nearly 70 minutes of total playing time but managed only 11 points. He shot 26.7% from the field—hitting just one of seven three-point attempts—and committed 12 turnovers, meaning he had more turnovers than total points scored.
Addressing the situation, Lakers head coach JJ Redick acknowledged that Bronny’s performance across those four preseason games was not ideal. However, Redick emphasized that Bronny has shown promise in practice, noting that some of his struggles may be attributed to the specific lineups he played with and the overall pace of the games. Despite a lackluster preseason, Bronny has managed to secure a spot on the Lakers’ opening-night roster.
As mocking videos continue to circulate online, Bronny will have an opportunity to prove himself in tomorrow’s game against the Warriors.