Comedian Tracy Morgan took a shot at Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James on live television Tuesday as the New York Knicks opened their season with a championship ring and banner night at Madison Square Garden.
Morgan, a longtime Knicks fan and former star of Saturday Night Live and “30 Rock,” made the remark before New York hosted Bronny’s father, LeBron James, in his Philadelphia 76ers debut.
By the end of the night, the 76ers had spoiled the celebration with a 106-100 win, but Morgan’s comment did not go unnoticed.
Tracy Morgan’s Bronny James Comment Sparks Criticism
Before the game, the Knicks raised their first championship banner since 1973 and handed out rings featuring a miniature Madison Square Garden.
During the festivities, however, Morgan turned the spotlight on the third-year Lakers guard, declaring, “Bronny look like he got JUCO ball written all over him.”
JUCO is shorthand for junior college basketball, a level well below the NBA, and while the remark drew some laughs from the broadcast’s hosts, the pushback from fans online was quick.
Replying to the clip, one fan asked, “Bro, what did Bronny do to him?? Weirdo.”
Another hoops observer pointed to the setting, a night built around the Knicks’ title: “Bronny catch the most random strays for no reason… It’s ring night and Bronny on ya mind lol.”
Others simply didn’t think the joke worked. “Corny,” one fan quipped.
CBS Sports fantasy football editor Brandon Howard reached a similar verdict: “This is lame.”
One Luka Dončić fan account went a step further, claiming, “He doing too much, guys like him is why I want Bronny to succeed.”
Nonetheless, the jab landed on a player whose game was already under a microscope.
Before the season opener, Lakers head coach JJ Redick weighed in on Bronny’s preseason.
“I don’t think he’s played well in the four preseason games, but he’s had good practices. Some of it is just rhythm,” Redick said. “He’s played a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games with our two-way guys… I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success.”
Meanwhile, Bronny’s father went to work against the Knicks. James, 41, spent much of the opening quarter as a facilitator. New York took a 58-54 lead into halftime, but the game turned in the third quarter.
Philadelphia outscored the Knicks 29-18 in the period, closing it on an 11-0 run to go up 83-76, and the Knicks never got the lead back. James was at the center of that momentum swing, making the most of two straight Karl-Anthony Towns turnovers with buckets at the rim.
James finished with 14 points on 5-of-13 shooting, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, a steal and a block in 34 minutes of action. He went 0-for-3 from deep and 4-of-6 at the line.
Tyrese Maxey led all scorers with 28 points to go with 3 steals and 3 blocks. Brown added 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 6 assists in his Philadelphia debut.
The 76ers, now 1-0 after a confidence-boosting win over the defending champions, return home Thursday to host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.