Bronny James was not used in the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Detroit Pistons, but still became central to the night after responding to a courtside heckler who was later escorted from the arena.
The 22-year-old appeared to challenge the woman’s fitness and finances, asking: “Can you run a mile?” He then followed by asking how much she earned each year.
It is unclear what the fan, who was seated close to the Lakers bench, had said to provoke the exchange. The confrontation became heated enough for Lakers staff to hold James back before security removed her from the building.
James is earning $2.3 million this season, a figure that added significance to his question about the fan’s income.
The incident was the second time in three games that a spectator had been ejected during a Lakers match. In Sacramento on Wednesday, a fan was removed after aggressively throwing the ball at official Chelisa Painter, prompting Luka Doncic to confront him.
James has previously clashed with a heckler. During a game against the Denver Nuggets in March 2025, a fan told him, “we own your father”, to which James replied: “Your chain fake.”
On the court, the Lakers secured a 121-116 victory over Detroit without Doncic, who missed the game because of lower back tightness. Austin Reaves led the scoring with 43 points and was also involved in an exchange with a Pistons fan, although that spectator was allowed to remain in the arena.
