Nearly 50 games into the regular season, Los Angeles Lakers head coach J.J. Redick has learned to tune out the We Want Bronny! chants.
They happen in every arena where the son of the NBA’s longtime standard-bearer suits up.
But Madison Square Garden isn’t just any arena. It’s The World’s Most Famous Arena.
And Knicks fans aren’t just any fans. They are some of the most passionate and unforgiving in all of sports.
So when the same crowd that gave LeBron James a standing ovation during pregame introductions started roaring for his son, Bronny James, as the Lakers pulled away for a 128-112 victory to snap the Knicks’ five-game winning streak on Saturday, it meant something.
Even if Redick brushed it off as just another night.
“Yeah, it does [feel special], for sure,” Bronny said of the chants after the game. “In The Garden, getting a bucket, hearing the entire Garden cheering for you — it’s an insane feeling.”
Bronny’s debut at The Garden came on a night that will be remembered for much more than a single moment.
Hours after the James family gathered outside the visiting locker room postgame, the Lakers agreed to a seismic deal that sent Anthony Davis, Max Christie, and a first-round pick to the Dallas Mavericks in exchange for Luka Dončić, Maxi Kleber, and Markieff Morris.
Yet, despite the magnitude of that trade, Bronny’s moment won’t be forgotten.
Because for the younger James, The Garden lived up to every expectation his father had set.
“I was just excited to play and be part of an experience to come in The Garden and feel the energy at The Garden,” he said.
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Surprisingly, Saturday night marked the first time Bronny had ever set foot inside Madison Square Garden — whether as a player or a spectator.
Between the relentless AAU circuit, four years of high school at Sierra Canyon, and a season at USC before declaring for the draft, he never had the opportunity to witness the world’s most famous basketball stage in person.
His hectic basketball schedule was a double-edged sword: He couldn’t be there to watch his father dominate on nights like these, just as LeBron — who has spent the last two decades as the face of the NBA — missed much of Bronny’s early playing career while building a legacy that will last forever.
“I missed a lot of Bronny’s points because of my career over the course of his childhood—his AAU games and high school,” LeBron admitted after the game. “And for me to see all the buckets he’s had as an NBA player with us is super special.
“It’s probably the greatest thing I’ve ever been a part of.”
With 1:50 left in the fourth quarter, the younger James checked in — for his father. The two shared a signature handshake, a passing of the torch, before the elder James walked off the Madison Square Garden floor for the night.
Moments later, The Garden’s other moniker — The Garden of Dreams — lived up to its name. Father and son both scored at The Mecca of Basketball.
And unlike the countless baskets LeBron had missed throughout his son’s youth, this one played out right in front of his eyes, on the same floor where he’s crafted some of the most iconic moments of his career.
With under a minute left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers comfortably ahead, Bronny took Knicks rookie Tyler Kolek into a screen, then crossed back over to his left hand and exploded downhill for an uncontested layup at the rim.
The Garden erupted — as if it were their own rookie, not the opponent’s, who had scored.
“I wasn’t really expecting much but to come out and support and be energy off the bench and be there for my guys,” Bronny said. “Once I was warming up out there, I was feeling the arena’s energy. I didn’t really feel it coming in because it’s kind of an older building, but once I got onto the court, it was totally different.”
Bronny has spent most of his rookie season either on the Lakers bench or developing in the G-League. His basket at The Garden was just the 11th point of a season he describes as a learning experience.
“It’s a lot. It’s a lot of craziness and stuff flying around, but I’m enjoying the process, enjoying every day that I get to come out and play the game I love and work at the game I love,” he said. “I’m just appreciative of everything.
“Because I’m not playing as much as I want to, just coming in with an open mind and learning from all my vets. I’ve got a bunch of ’em in here. Just coming in — not [completely] being a fly on the wall, but just being a fly on the wall and picking up as much information as I can.”**
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As much as Bronny is embracing his journey, LeBron knows his own time in the league is winding down.
That’s why Saturday night — his 22nd season, one of his final games at The Garden — felt different.
Yes, he posted a 33-point triple-double. Yes, he carried the Lakers with Davis out with an abdominal injury. And yes, he remains one of the best players on the floor no matter the opponent, even at age 40.
But even if Redick shrugs off the “We Want Bronny!” chants, LeBron — a man who has battled different iterations of these Knicks for two decades — knows exactly what The Garden means.
To The King, MSG is sacred territory.
“Very much so. Fans have always treated me with respect, and I was always just trying to give it back to them for my career, understanding the history of this building and so many people that’s come through this building,” LeBron said. “So many athletes, so many musicians, so many artists.
“I’ve been a part of Madison Square Garden for my 20+ years, so just trying to give back to it.”
And the chance to share that moment — on this court, with his son — made it all the more special.
So did the final result.
“It’s special that we were on the winning team,” said the elder James. “It’s special to have these moments with my boy, for sure.”