LeBron James jokes Will Anderson Jr. is his 'fourth child' after courtside encounter

Key facts

• LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 98-78 in Game 6.
• Will Anderson Jr., Houston Texans defensive end, was sitting courtside during the game.
• Anderson helped James up after a hard foul midway through the game.
• James joked that Anderson is his 'fourth child' and that he and Bronny James are 'twins'.
• The resemblance between James, Bronny, and Anderson has been a fan joke since Anderson entered the NFL.
• James added that no disrespect was intended toward Anderson's family.
• James called Anderson an 'unbelievable football player' deserving of everything he's achieved.
• Anderson has previously been asked about comparisons to Bronny but has not seemed convinced.

A courtside moment steals the spotlight

LeBron James had just powered the Los Angeles Lakers into the next round, but one of the night's most memorable moments had little to do with the scoreboard. It came midway through Game 6, when James hit the floor after a hard foul and was helped up by Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr., the NFL pass rusher fans have long joked looks like he belongs in the James family. The timing could not have been better. The Lakers were in Houston, Anderson was courtside, and the internet's favorite lookalike comparison suddenly had a real-life moment to work with.

James delivers a postseason punchline

After Los Angeles finished off the Rockets with a 98-78 win, James was asked about the exchange and delivered one of the funniest answers of the postseason. “The moment was pretty cool,” James told Houston Chronicle reporter Jonathan M. Alexander. “It was good to see him. That’s my fourth child. "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.”

A running joke rooted in facial resemblance

The resemblance between James, Bronny James and Anderson has been a running joke among fans since Anderson entered the NFL with the Texans. It's not based on anything deeper than facial similarities and social media humor, but James showed he is fully aware of the conversation. He quickly made clear there was no disrespect intended toward Anderson’s family, pivoting from the joke to genuine praise.

Praise for the Texans standout

“No disrespect to his parents,” James said. “I didn't start it. Unbelievable football player, deserving of everything that he’s got. It was definitely dope to see him.” Anderson has previously been asked about comparisons to Bronny, but the Texans standout has not seemed convinced. The moment encapsulated James's ability to blend humor with respect, a trait that has endeared him to fans and peers alike.

What comes next for the Lakers and the joke

The Lakers advance to the next round, their sights set on another championship run. For James, the lighthearted exchange with Anderson provided a brief respite from the intensity of playoff basketball. As for the joke, it is likely to persist as long as Anderson and Bronny James share similar features. Whether Anderson will ever embrace the comparison remains an open question. But for one night, a courtside collision turned into a family affair—at least in LeBron James's imagination.

The bottom line

• LeBron James used a Game 6 collision with Will Anderson Jr. to joke that Anderson is his 'fourth child' and a twin to Bronny James.
• The Lakers defeated the Rockets 98-78 to advance in the playoffs.
• The resemblance between James, Bronny, and Anderson has been a fan joke since Anderson entered the NFL.
• James balanced the joke with genuine praise for Anderson's football career.
• Anderson has not publicly embraced the comparison to Bronny James.