Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James has never shied away from defending his son, Bronny James.

LeBron James slams Doug GottilebLeBron James (Photo by Darren Yamashita/Imagn Images)
Whether through praise or subtle jabs, LeBron has consistently shown his support for Bronny amid skepticism.

One such critic was Fox Sports Radio host-turned-Green Bay basketball head coach Doug Gottlieb. Back in July of last year, Gottlieb claimed that Bronny would struggle to even start on his Green Bay team.

Fast forward to the present, and Green Bay had been enduring a brutal three-month losing streak. A recent report highlighting Gottlieb’s struggles gave LeBron the perfect opportunity to fire back.

“Earned 2 Not Given! Gotta give him credit though!” LeBron wrote on X with a series of emojis.

To Gottlieb’s credit, his team finally broke their slump on Sunday. They secured a 78-69 victory over Wright State.

However, LeBron’s post still carried weight, as it subtly reminded people of Gottlieb’s own past controversies. Many NBA fans still recall that Gottlieb was dismissed from Notre Dame after his freshman season for stealing his teammates’ credit cards.

Kendrick Perkins Calls Out LeBron James For Snubbing The 2025 NBA All-Star Game

Amid his bold take on Doug Gottlieb, LeBron James himself created controversy by not attending the 2025 NBA All-Star Game. During an appearance on Get Up, former NBA player Kendrick Perkins criticized LeBron for not informing fans or the league earlier about his decision to sit out.

“He probably knew he wasn’t going to play when he was selected for the All-Star Game… How about giving people a heads-up? [How about] not showing up to the actual All-Star weekend an hour before the game starts? And then all of a sudden, you’re taking away from another guy who should have earned to be in the All-Star Game,” Perkins said.

LeBron was originally set to play on Shaquille O’Neal’s Shaq’s OGs team, which ultimately won the tournament by defeating Chuck’s Global Stars. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry took home the MVP honor. However, among the big names on the roster, LeBron was the only one who did not participate.