LaMelo Ball owned the night in Los Angeles, torching the Lakers with ease and walking out of Crypto.com Arena with another statement win. But for all the damage he did on the scoreboard, the most replayed moment from Thursday didn’t come off a step-back three or a slick assist. That moment arrived in a brief, unexpected exchange with Lakers guard Bronny James.

Caught on a hot mic during live play, Ball was visibly—and audibly—taken aback by the rookie’s physicality, delivering a blunt, NSFW reaction that quickly lit up social media. The Hornets star had dominated the game, but it was Bronny’s strength that momentarily stopped him in his tracks.

Bronny, who played for JJ Redick for just one minute, had the opportunity to go all defensive against a charging Collin Sexton. On seeing this, an impressed Ball mouthed: “DAMN BRONNY, YOU A STRONG A– N—-.”

The Lakers lacked the edge after winning their last games before the Hornets’ avalanche. A 16-point period before halftime was enough for them to lose control of the game. Meanwhile, rotations slipped, and Charlotte’s youthful guards steered the tempo.

Therefore, even as marquee names filled the box score, resistance faded. LeBron James’ 29 and Luka Doncic’s 39 points weren’t enough because the youth pool of Charlotte was overpowering.

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Meanwhile, Bronny James is picking up some heat from the NBA community. Missed threes, no defense, no offense, no points– it feels like watching rookie year James Jr. all over again. “Time to trade him” has become a slogan against him.

However, former NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas has come to Bronny’s defense, praising his dominant G-League performance and noting how critics have gone silent since he began excelling. Speaking on the Gil’s Arena Show, Arenas didn’t hold back: “They should name the G-League Bronny League because he’s f—— them up…He is really dominating.”

Lakers coach JJ Redick recently praised Bronny James for his marked improvement in comfort, confidence, skills, and court reads during 5-on-5 play, calling him a “totally different player” from his rookie year.

With the Lakers realistically vying for a title alongside stars like LeBron James and Luka Doncic, Bronny’s standout defensive ability could prove his most valuable asset.

This was especially evident in his physical matchup against Collin Sexton—a guard of similar size—where the sophomore guard rose to the challenge with tenacity.

On the other hand, LaMelo Ball stole the spotlight even in James and Doncic’s presence.

Therefore, the Slovenian superstar didn’t waste time or opportunity to commend his rival after the game.

Luka Doncic acknowledged LaMelo Ball

The visiting guard authored a statement at Crypto.com Arena. First, LaMelo Ball totaled 30 on the scoreboard. Then, nine long-range makes followed, with eight arriving after the break. Meanwhile, self-created jumpers shredded rotations. Therefore, every adjustment failed as Ball’s rhythm touch seized control and bent the game toward inevitability.

“I mean, he hit some crazy shots, but that’s what he does,” Doncic said. “He was shooting a lot of shots off the dribble. We planned for that, but he hit some crazy shots. As I said, he does that, so he got really hot.” He added, “He made nine threes tonight, eight threes in the second half, so it was hard to stop him.”

Chaos ruled the arena. The Charlotte Hornets claimed the night through pace, poise, and fearlessness. Meanwhile, LaMelo Ball owned the spotlight, earned rival respect, and even sparked a viral Bronny moment.

However, the Lakers faded despite star firepower. The youth overwhelmed experience and the evening became a reminder that swagger and creation can also decide nights.