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NBA Champion Sends Strong LeBron James Message After Latest Criticism

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rolly Gacelo | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 1:08 AM ET

Former NBA All-Star Jeff Teague is among those who have a lot to say about LeBron James and his son Bronny becoming an NBA player. This time, he is singing a different tune about the Los Angeles Lakers father-son duo after hearing a dig from a former NBA player during All-Star Weekend.

Ron Harper Sr. tried to be funny by taking a shot at James during All-Star Weekend. Even his own son, Dylan of the Boston Celtics, had to stop him before things got out of hand.

The Harpers — Ron Sr., Ron Jr. of the San Antonio Spurs, and Dylan — were among the participants in the Shooting Stars Challenge. They sat down with reporters to talk about their milestone, and when one reporter asked the former Chicago Bulls player whether he had planned for his sons to play in the NBA, his answer appeared to reference James.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Dylan Harper goes for the steal versus Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron JamesJayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

“I’m not LeBron James. I’m not going to tell my kids what they have to do," Harper said.

His sons can only master "Yooo" in response.

Ron Harper on if he expected his sons to both play in the NBA:

“I’m not LeBron James I’m not going to tell my kids what they have do.”

The reaction from Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper “Yooo” https://t.co/3YGRCQnRRr pic.twitter.com/qyo0LDRdlp
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) February 14, 2026

Harper, who won five championships with the Bulls, later claimed on X that he was just joking and that he is very supportive of what James did for Bronny. He even referenced a January 2025 X post defending the Lakers star, in which he said he would do the same thing for his own kids.

Teague is not over it. On the Club 520 podcast that he hosts, the one-time NBA champion commented that, of all people, Harper Sr. should push his kids to make it to the NBA.

"I’m protecting LeBron today. [Expletive] that. I know everybody always be I done fouled him and did all type of [expletive]. But he’s the last [expletive] who kids got to do anything," Teague said in the podcast.

"Bro, no disrespect. Your kids probably had to hoop. Yeah. Like you I don’t know your money situation. I don’t know what you did in life, but I’m pretty sure you ain’t living like LeBron level. Yeah. So, the last people who needed to hoop is Bronny and Bryce.”

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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