“Of course, there are nerves. (It) comes with everything. But I’m just excited to go out there and learn, and learn from the people playing in front of me.” Bronny James had some choice words to use when describing what to anticipate during his debut game against the Timberwolves. After years of practice, attempting to leave his mark during his high school and college career, and facing all the scrutiny that came in light of his reportedly abysmal stats, the chance for the 19-year-old to prove himself had finally come. With LeBron James not being present for the Timberwolves game, the focus is on Bronny to see whether he will fall or fly. Fortunately, from the start, the young star seems to be leaving behind a good impression.

During the second quarter, with 11:17 minutes on the clock, the Timberwolves led the Lakers by by 39-23. Gaining possession of the ball, Nickeil Alexander-Walker proceeded to rush to the basket to add to the lead. He made a swift move to overcome the defense by D’Angelo Russell. However, just as he leaped, Bronny came from behind and pushed the ball away, igniting cheers not only from the crowd but also from the commentators.

As it turned out, Bronny’s block was eerily similar to the one displayed by LeBron James during a matchup against the Golden State Warriors. Playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers at that point, the future NBA All-Time Scorer piped down the Bay Area supporters in the arena after effortlessly blocking a shot attempt by Andre Iguodala during Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals. With the move going down in history as ‘The Block’, fans were quick to relate LeBron’s eight-year-old action to the one recently displayed by his exit. As it turns out, however, Bronny may have to put out more than blocks if he wishes to impress certain NBA enthusiasts.

How are fans reacting to Bronny James’ pre-season debut performance?

Social media users did not wait for the Lakers-Timberwolves game to conclude, and immediately started dropping their reactions to the game. One fan was generous with his praise, stating straightaway that the block carried the cailber to award Bronny with the “Defensive rookie of the year” title.

Another user went on to remark “I think I’ve seen this already before.” This was, obviously, a reference to ‘The Block’ By LeBron James made during the 2016 NBA Finals. Being such an iconic move, it was no surprise that the memory of it has been etched in the minds of NBA fans for so long. As it result, it wasn’t that difficult when relating the moves.

One social media user followed the same path as the above commentors to write “Omg it runs in the family.”

Aside from the offensive prowess that has allowed him to possess more points than anyone in NBA history, LeBron James also possess a defensive skill worth mentioning. Over his regular season career, he has accumulated over 1,106 blocks, ranking him 90 on the all-time list. Furthermore, the 270 shots blocked in the playoffs is the 10 most in postseason history. His chase-down blocks are certainly a bragging aspect, as LeBron has been seen blocking most of his shots by approaching from behind and swatting the ball away from the rival.

While Bronny did not impress many analysts with his offense during his college tenure and at the Summer League, his defensive skills have been a different story. Lakers head coach JJ Redick has even come out to state “We’ve been impressed with what we’ve seen in practice and the games.”

Touching base on Bronny James’ performance, one fan did not choose to focus on the block but instead on the later part of the game. After missing out on a block, Bronny was able to make his first assist by passing the ball to Rui Hachimura, who dropped it for a three. Rather than praise the assist, the fan took offense at the missed block, writing “He’s going to the G-league gang.”

Overall, the majority of reactions were positive towards what the young star put out during his debut game. While Bronny wasn’t able to add even a single point in the first three quarters of the matchup, the block showed that his training seems to be taking him in the right direction.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.