During the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ series-clinching Game 6 road win over the Houston Rockets on Friday night, LeBron James hit the deck after Jabari Smith Jr. rejected him on the break.
Despite being robbed of transition points, James was beaming as Houston Texans star defensive end Will Anderson Jr. helped him up from the floor.
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Aside from his game-wrecking pass-rushing ability, Anderson is now famously known for his uncanny resemblance to Bronny James.
LeBron James and Anderson dapped each other up before James returned to what became a 98-78 victory, in which the 22-time All-Star piled up 28 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds.
Here’s another view of the humorous run-in:
“What was the moment like?” James said postgame, via the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Alexander. “The moment was pretty cool. Yeah, I just said it was good to see him.”
Then James said facetiously: “That’s my fourth child. Yeah, him and Bronny are twins, and don’t nobody know it. Me and Savannah have been trying to keep it under wraps for a long time.”
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That remark drew laughter from reporters surrounding James’ locker. James, basking in a first-round playoff series victory at 41 years old and in his NBA-record 23rd season, smiled while quickly following up his joke with the obvious clarification.
“But nah, no disrespect to his parents — his real parents,” James said, still grinning. “Let me not get that started.”
The internet ran with the Bronny James-Will Anderson lookalike meme after Anderson signed his three-year extension that’s reportedly worth $150 million and made him the new highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Once he put ink to paper, the 24-year-old Anderson got in front of the camera for a video the Texans proudly posted on social media. In it, the 2025 first-team All-Pro says that he’s “here for a good time and a long time,” alluding to his new deal in Houston.
That short, close-up clip set the stage for an array of side-by-side comparisons with who else but Bronny James.
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The Texans are in on it now, too.
After dropping Games 4 and 5 and watching their 3-0 series lead shrink to 3-2, the Lakers bounced back in Houston to deliver a Game 6 win.
James rose to the occasion, as he’s so often done during the four-time NBA champion’s career. Postgame, he was quick to recognize the greatness of a fellow athlete.
“Unbelievable football player,” James said of Anderson. “Deserving of everything that he’s got. It was definitely dope to see him.”
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