Many basketball fans may have forgotten Doug Gottlieb’s pointed comments about Bronny James in July 2024, but LeBron James certainly did not. He got some payback on Sunday after Gottlieb responded on X to a fan’s query about whether Bronny James could start in his first season as head coach of the Green Bay Phoenix. Gottlieb concluded, “He would compete to start, but … I think it would be hard for him to start TBH.”
Those comments now feel like a long time ago. While Bronny James remains a target for critics questioning his legitimacy as an NBA player, he’s having a better season with the Los Angeles Lakers (and their G League affiliate) than Gottlieb is experiencing with the Phoenix, which currently have a dismal record of 3-24 and have lost games they should have won. Meanwhile, Gottlieb has bickered with the media and expressed regrets about his team’s poor season.
On Sunday, UWGB finally snapped a 21-game losing streak with a win over Wright State. However, ahead of the game, College Basketball Report posted on X: “Doug Gottlieb and Green Bay have not won a basketball game in three months. The Phoenix are currently 2-24.” LeBron James, always active on social media, saw the post and reacted with a flurry of emojis.
Earned 2 Not Given! Gotta give him credit though! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. 💩 💩 💩 💩 💩 https://t.co/khxpnlvUY1
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 17, 2025
Gottlieb had that one coming. James did what any father would do in a similar situation: standing up for his son.
