LeBron James, Lakers Ripped By NBA Fans as Bronny Scores 1st Points in Loss vs. Cavs

Featured Columnist IVOctober 31, 2024

CLEVELAND, OHIO - OCTOBER 30: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers posts up against Caris LeVert #3 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the first half at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on October 30, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Jason Miller/Getty Images

Maybe it's time to dial back some of the praise the Los Angeles Lakers and first-year head coach JJ Redick got after a 3-0 start.

The Lakers dropped their second straight game Wednesday night and in decisive fashion. The Cleveland Cavaliers dominated from start to finish en route to a 134-110 victory at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.

LeBron James and Anthony Davis combined to score 48 points, while Davis hauled in 13 rebounds for a double-double. The two stars didn't get much from the supporting cast, though, and Los Angeles shot 6-of-28 from the perimeter as a team.

That contrasted starkly from the Cavs, who hit 57.7 percent of their shots and knocked down 17 threes. Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley also bullied the Lakers inside to the tune of 45 points.

Even when considering the Cavs' own hot start, it was a surprisingly flat performance from Los Angeles, and fans on social media reacted accordingly:

LakeShowYo @LakeShowYo
Lakers down 20 in the first quarter <a href="https://t.co/H8cJGf2WMG">pic.twitter.com/H8cJGf2WMG</a>

Trevor Lane @Trevor_Lane
Cavs punishing the Lakers for every mistake. And LA is making a ton of them

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Lakers Daily @LakersDailyCom
Lakers with absolutely zero resistance at the rim

kiki ☆ @causeimicy
that lakers-cavs score… <a href="https://t.co/D91NRgSShH">pic.twitter.com/D91NRgSShH</a>

Lakers Nation @LakersNation
These turnovers are as careless as can be.

Big Baby jonathan @BigBabyJonathan
The reason the Lakers lost his game tonight is because of their defense and not playing with a sense of urgency and defensive end in my personal opinion and the turnovers as well, but majority of the defense

Lakers Legacy @LakersLegacyPod
Lakers bench: 6pts tonight. After 8 pts last game. If Dalton's not scoring, the Bench doesn't score at all. JJ & the FO need to address this/figure something out.

Red Mamba @Purpl3andGold
The <a href="https://twitter.com/Lakers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lakers</a> bench has 5 points currently, the Cavs has 29. Our bench is going to be an issue.. <a href="https://t.co/chycPVrOc7">pic.twitter.com/chycPVrOc7</a>

Raj C. @RajChipalu
Coming into the season, my biggest concern was the deficiency of athletes on the perimeter. Even in the wins, very concerned about our foot speed. AD covers for a lot, but it is very tough to have any consistency on defense when you can't stay in front of anyone.

BricksCenter @BricksCenter
Even the refs can't save the Lakers 😭 <a href="https://t.co/0Z8eD0tV0H">pic.twitter.com/0Z8eD0tV0H</a>

Harrison Faigen @hmfaigen
Keeping track of Donovan Mitchell might be a good idea

Daman Rangoola @damanr
JJ Redick it's time to learn podcast promo code again, buddy

Redick didn't guarantee anything when it came to Bronny James' playing time for his first game in Cleveland, but he did hint the rookie guard might see the floor, per ESPN's Dave McMenamin.

Plenty of fans tuned in to see Bronny and LeBron take the court together in the same arena where LeBron played as a member of the Cavs for 11 seasons.

The home team apparently didn't read the script. Cleveland built a 19-point lead after the first quarter, which made it tough for Redick to get Bronny onto the floor with L.A. trying to claw its way back.

While the 20-year-old did eventually enter the contest, it came in garbage time after the Lakers rested LeBron and their other stars. Still, the ovations he received once he hopped off the bench and subsequently scored his first NBA points spoke to the significance of the night.

Jordan Zirm @JordanZirm
Cavs welcomed Bronny back by treating the Lakers like a G League team

Cam @camfromthe216
Bronny James on the bench thinking he was going to play against the Cavs <a href="https://t.co/XTtoWFPdUO">pic.twitter.com/XTtoWFPdUO</a>

Calenta @NBAPaint1
Cavs made sure they ruined whatever moment Bron and Bronny thought they were going to have lmaoo

Jovan Buha @jovanbuha
A loud "We want Bronny!" chant has started here in Cleveland <a href="https://t.co/HlY99RMiyl">pic.twitter.com/HlY99RMiyl</a>

Ben Axelrod @BenAxelrod
I remember seeing Bronny James waiting in line for Dip N Dots during Cavs games.

Sir Yacht @SirYacht_
Bronny James is playing on the Cavs court 🥹

Danny Cunningham @RealDCunningham
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cavs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cavs</a> fans are booing every time someone on the Lakers shoots that isn't Bronny. They want to see his first NBA basket pretty bad.

The good news for the Lakers is they get the Toronto Raptors and Detroit Pistons, a pair of teams in the midst of rebuilds, in their next two games. That gives Los Angeles an opportunity to regain positive momentum before it closes out its road trip on Nov. 6 against the Memphis Grizzlies.

MIN vs OKC

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