Sometimes silence says more than a thousand words. LeBron James wasn’t on the hardwood at Chase Center on Sunday night. However, his Instagram comment might have been the loudest thing to come out of the Lakers’ 111-103 loss to the Warriors. As his son Bronny pulled off a viral putback slam dunk with one hand, King James had no words, literally. And while he did not actually say anything, he still made his message pretty clear.

The setup, the vertical reach, and the release under pressure? It was an isolation move, the kind of bucket that circulates on social media before the final buzzer even rings. King James had a wide smirk on his face as he sat back down after watching the slam. But there were no hype paragraphs in sight on social media, just “🐰🐰🔝” on the story re-post of Bronny’s shot.

LeBron James has been deliberate about not over-coaching his son in public, preferring instead to let Bronny breathe on his own court. He logged 23 minutes, the kind of run you only get when the usual stars are in street clothes. He missed a late pull-up three and also turned the ball over.

However, Bronny also played in defensive rotations, set up his teammates, and showed patience beyond his age. For a 21-year-old guard trying to crack NBA speed, that’s the homework the Lakers and their fans want to see.

On the other hand, LeBron’s preseason absence isn’t a mystery. For the second straight preseason game, the 40-year-old sat out nursing nerve irritation in his glute. But the Lakers aren’t panicking. It’s a calculated approach, entirely expected for a player entering his 23rd season.

JJ Redick has been upfront that October wins don’t matter. Health does. As per the head coach, they’re playing the “long game” with the veteran. The Lakers’ medical staff has emphasized that the injury is minor, and the organization is prioritizing October 21, when the regular season tips off.

Naturally, with first-team stars sidelined, that’s left Bronny in the spotlight. And while his numbers didn’t pop off the stats sheet with five points, three rebounds, and three assists, his moments did. Chief among them was the viral slam.

How crucial is the Lakers’ preseason for Bronny with LeBron James absent?

King James has missed both the games against the Suns and Warriors, leaving fans worried. At 40, every muscle tweak is magnified, but there’s no appetite within the Lakers to risk anything before the games count. The ripple effect, though?

With Luka Doncic also resting, and Marcus Smart managing Achilles tendinopathy, JJ Redick’s rotations have leaned heavily on young legs. Dalton Knecht dropped 12 points and six rebounds. Gabe Vincent had a team-high 16 in under 20 minutes. Preseason or not, those reps count.For Bronny, they count double. He’s not going to be a starter when the season opens. He may not even see consistent minutes. But these games act as auditions for the coaching staff, for the locker room, and for the James family narrative that’s now running on two tracks.

LeBron’s pursuit of longevity and Bronny’s push to have a name of his own are playing out side by side. That putback slam emphasized confidence. It’s the kind of attitude Redick can work with. The head coach has been quite vocal about the young gun’s skills, which have improved over time.

“He’s a totally different player than he was a year ago. I thought the stuff that he did down in the G League last year was huge for him in developing a comfort level in playing at this level,” Redick told ESPN.

LeBron has said before that he’d love to share the floor with his son. But the business side complicates that. He is under a player option worth $52.6 million for the season with the Lakers, but hints about his retirement are showered across recent interviews.

If this season is indeed King James’ last, then every Bronny highlight doubles as a piece of the bigger story. The legacy question isn’t just how long LeBron can play, but also how quickly Bronny can catch up. The Lakers’ cautious preseason philosophy mirrors that tension. Against Golden State, Steph Curry and Co. reminded everyone how steep that climb really is. Curry poured in 14 points in just 15 minutes. Moses Moody and Buddy Hield showcased veteran efficiency.

Preseason losses don’t sting much, but glimpses of the future matter. On Saturday, that future was wearing shirt No. 9, emerging from the shadow of someone who understands the spotlight will never dim. And just like that, LeBron didn’t need a caption to celebrate. His son wrote it for him.