If you thought LeBron James missing the All-Star starting lineup for the first time since 2005 was the biggest story of the week, check the fine print. The NBA released the full voting breakdown on Friday, and one detail has sent NBA Twitter into a meltdown: Bronny James received votes to be a Western Conference starter.
Yes, you read that correctly. While the 41-year-old legend saw his historic 21-year streak snap, his son—who is currently averaging roughly 1.5 points per game and splitting time with the G-League South Bay Lakers—somehow secured two official votes from his NBA peers to start in the All-Star Game.
The revelation has sparked a debate about the integrity of the “Player Vote” (which accounts for 25% of the formula). The ballot is intended to be the “respect” vote, a counter-balance to fan popularity contests. Instead, it appears at least two players used their ballots for what analysts are calling “peak trolling” or perhaps the ultimate sign of family loyalty.
“The irony isn’t lost on fans that Bronny’s father, LeBron James, saw his record-breaking 21-year starting streak come to an end during this time too,” noted one report.
To make matters even more chaotic, Bronny wasn’t the only questionable selection. Isaac Jones, a player who has scored a total of five points this entire season, received four player votes. Meanwhile, legitimate stars like Anthony Edwards missed out on starting spots due to razor-thin tiebreakers.
LeBron has publicly stated he is “good either way” regarding his own snub, but he has yet to comment on the fact that his son officially polled better in the “peer review” than some rotation players. For a league that prides itself on drama, the 2026 voting results might be the funniest and most disrespectful moment of the year.
