LOS ANGELES (AP) — LeBron James is applauding the decision made by his son, Bryce, to play basketball at the University of Arizona next season.
After James scored 38 points for the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday night in the third highest-scoring performance by an NBA player after his 40th birthday, the top scorer in NBA history praised the college choice made Wednesday by his younger son.
“It was his decision to make, and he went where he felt comfortable,” LeBron said. “Coach (Tommy) Lloyd is a straight shooter. Gave him exactly what they believe (about) him, what they thought about him as a person, as a player. We're happy to be part of the Bear Down community now.”
Bryce James is a four-star recruit at Sierra Canyon School in suburban Chatsworth. That's the same private high school where his older brother, Bronny, played his senior season in 2022-23.
Bronny went on to play one year at Southern California before entering the draft, where the Lakers grabbed him in the second round. LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play together in the NBA in October.
LeBron, who turned 40 on Monday, muted his praise of Arizona only when it allowed him to take a jab at two of his former NBA teammates.
“Got some terrible friends in Richard Jefferson and Channing Frye that are alum there," James said with a smirk. "So not too excited about that, but other than that, we're excited to go be a part of the Tucson community.”
James, Jefferson and Frye were together on the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 championship team, winning the city's only major professional sports title.
Bryce James also reportedly had a scholarship offer from Ohio State, and he took an unofficial visit last fall to the marquee school in his parents' home state.
LeBron is a longtime fan of Ohio State athletics, and he has been avidly following the football team's march into the College Football Playoff semifinals.
When a reporter mentioned the Buckeyes' blowout victory over top-ranked Oregon in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday, James straight-facedly replied: “Ohio State did what? We did what?” before pulling on a Buckeyes cap with a smile.
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FILE - Sierra Canyon's Bryce James #5 warms up against Christopher Columbus at halftime during a high school basketball game at the Hoophall Classic, on January 16, 2023, in Springfield, MA. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Detroit Pistons in Los Angeles, Monday, Dec. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Filip Gustavsson made 20 saves for his third shutout this season, Marco Rossi had four assists and the Minnesota Wild beat the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 on Saturday night.
The Wild improved to 16-5-2 when scoring first this season as Mats Zuccarello beat Pyotr Kochetkov on a slap shot for a 1-0 lead with 6:57 left in the first period.
Zuccarello, who also assisted on Joel Eriksson Ek’s tip-in goal on the power play in the second period, added an empty net goal with 3:46 remaining. Matt Boldy also scored in the third.
The short-handed Wild won their third consecutive game despite missing leading scorer Kirill Kaprizov (sidelined for a fifth consecutive game by a lower-body injury) and captain Jared Spurgeon (out at least two weeks with a right leg injury).
Wild: Despite lacking its best players on offense (Kaprizov) and defense (Spurgeon), Minnesota improved to 25-11-4 with its fourth victory in five games. With 52 points, it has the third-best start through 40 games in franchise history.
Hurricanes: Carolina managed only one shot in the first 12 minutes, which included a four-minute power play.
The Hurricanes briefly were on the scoreboard with 5:01 left in the second period after Jalen Chatfield banked the puck off Minnesota’s Jonas Brodin and past Gustavsson. But the goal was disallowed because Carolina was ruled offsides after Minnesota coach John Hynes challenged the play.
Minnesota improved to 16-0-0 when leading after two periods.
The Wild will return home to play St. Louis on Tuesday night. The Hurricanes host Pittsburgh on Sunday night in the seventh of 14 back-to-back sets this season.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Carolina Hurricanes' Jordan Staal (11) protests a call with an official during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) blocks a shot of the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Minnesota Wild's Marco Rossi (23) controls the puck with Carolina Hurricanes' Jalen Chatfield (5) nearby during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Jack Drury (18) is taken down by Minnesota Wild's Jon Merrill (4) in front of Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson, left, during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Minnesota Wild players celebrate after a goal against the Carolina Hurricanes during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Minnesota Wild's Yakov Trenin (13) shoots the puck past Carolina Hurricanes' Brent Burns (8) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
The Minnesota Wild celebrate a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) catches the puck between teammate Travis Dermott (44) and Carolina Hurricanes' Jesperi Kotkaniemi (82) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Minnesota Wild goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) watches the puck against the Carolina Hurricanes during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
Carolina Hurricanes' Andrei Svechnikov (37) chases the puck between Minnesota Wild's Jonas Brodin (25) and goaltender Filip Gustavsson (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Karl DeBlaker)
