Why Texans star Will Anderson Jr. helped up LeBron James courtside — the real reason
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Why Texans star Will Anderson Jr. helped up LeBron James courtside — the real reason originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Los Angeles Lakers eliminated the Houston Rockets in Game 6 with a convincing 98-78 victory, led by 28 points from LeBron James and 21 from Rui Hachimura.
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Austin Reaves added 15 points in just his second game back from an oblique injury, while the Rockets were missing Kevin Durant for the fifth time in the series due to injury.
Despite the blowout, everyone held their breath in the third quarter when Jabari Smith Jr. blocked James' shot. The 41-year-old tumbled into the courtside seats, prompting Houston Texans star Will Anderson Jr. to jump up and help the Lakers legend back to his feet.
Since he grew up as a massive LeBron fan, he couldn’t just sit there while his idol was on the floor.
Will Anderson Jr. helps LeBron James up courtside
After the Rockets’ forward blocked James' scoring attempt, the 41-year-old went hard near the courtside seats. Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. was sitting right there and helped pull him up.
They shared a quick embrace and a smile before getting back to the game. Anderson later posted the clip to his Instagram story, calling James a "freaking legend."
That hard fall initially caused a scare because any time the Lakers' King goes down in a closeout game, fans worry about an injury. But he stayed in, finishing with 28 points in his second-best scoring night of the series.
However, the actual reason the clip went viral beyond the fall itself is well-documented internet lore. Just to recap, there has been a long-running joke that Anderson and Bronny James look exactly alike. Plus, he is a longtime LeBron James fan.
James, however, knew about the meme. So, after the game, he told reporter Steve Helwick, "That’s my fourth child. Him and Bronny are twins and don’t nobody know it."
Anderson, who just became the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback with a $150 million extension, clearly had a good time while helping his idol on the court. While folks expected mutual respect, no one saw King James’ "secret child" joke coming.
Luka Doncic's injury looms large heading into Thunder series, not LeBron James.
LeBron's fall was a scare that ended fine, but the Lakers' biggest injury concern remains sidelined. ESPN's Shams Charania confirmed the Lakers will be without Luka Doncic to start their second-round series against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
He has been out since April 2 after suffering a Grade 2 left hamstring strain against the Thunder. His absence creates a serious hurdle for the Lakers because Mark Daigneault's squad beat every version of the Lakers this season -- with Doncic, without him.
While James showed strength with a +26 rating in the Game 6 closeout against Houston, facing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and a rested Thunder squad without Doncic is a much steeper challenge.
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