Bryce James, the youngest son of LeBron James, reached a significant milestone in his budding basketball career with his debut for the University of Arizona. The 18 year old guard participated in the team’s annual Red-Blue Showcase, marking his first appearance in a Wildcats uniform. This scrimmage was the first chance for fans and coaches to see the highly touted freshman in a collegiate setting, a moment of both pressure and excitement for any player.

While such events often draw family members to the arena, the support system for Bryce on this special night presented a clear contrast. His famous parents, LeBron and Savannah James, are typically very vocal in their support of their children’s athletic endeavors, but their presence for this debut was expressed differently, leaving one person to hold down the fort in person.

Sadie Johnson took to her Instagram Story and uploaded a video from the McKale Center, confirming her physical presence at the venue. She captioned the moment with a simple but telling message: “#6❤️💙”. The hashtag referenced Bryce’s jersey number, while the heart emojis matched the Arizona Wildcats’ team colors. This post served as a public display of her support from the stands during his first college scrimmage.

While Sadie Johnson was there in person, Bryce’s parents showed their pride from a distance. Both LeBron and Savannah James reposted the same content from the br_hoops Instagram account on their own stories. The original post they shared was captioned, “We got our first look at Bryce James hooping for Arizona”, and featured footage from his debut.

On the court, Bryce made an immediate impact by hitting a three-pointer on the very first possession. He finished the scrimmage with 3 points, one assist, and one steal in 18 minutes of play for Team Blue. His girlfriend’s on-site presence, highlighted by her social media tribute, underscored her role as his primary in-person supporter for this inaugural college basketball moment.

Uncle Steps Into the Spotlight

In a twist that filled the familial void, NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was a featured guest at the Red-Blue Showcase. The Hall of Famer, who served as the post-game DJ, warmly acknowledged his connection to the James family. Speaking to a sideline reporter, Shaq referred to Bryce as his nephew, stating, “Nice to see my nephew, Bryce out here. Mama James. His lovely wife.”

The event itself was a major production, headlined by Shaq and former Arizona football star Rob Gronkowski. The pre-game festivities included a slam dunk contest where Gronkowski famously dunked over a mini Land Rover. This high-energy environment provided a grand stage for Bryce’s debut, blending college basketball with entertainment spectacle.

While Shaq confirmed he doesn’t typically watch college basketball, his presence and affectionate shout-out served as a public endorsement for Bryce. He concluded his remarks by playfully promoting his alma mater, saying, “I’ll just come here to do a little after party and then go back to where real basketball is played at LSU.” His involvement added a layer of NBA-level recognition to Bryce’s inaugural Arizona performance, offering support in LeBron’s physical absence.