Ex-SNL star Tracy Morgan disses Lakers' Bronny James during Knicks season opener originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Comedians often have a lot to say about NBA players. They tend to make fun of franchises and stars on screen because some of them are avid fans of the league. Tracy Morgan is one of these stars. He is a notable, lifelong fan of the New York Knicks. So, everything he says and jokes about should be taken with a grain of salt. On NBA Opening Night, he had something to say about Bronny James before Jalen Brunson and Co. raised their 2026 championship banner. The statement from the SNL alum and 30 Rock star may not sit well with the Los Angeles Lakers player.
Lakers' Bronny James gets dissed by the ex-SNL and 30 Rock star
Dunking on Bronny James with different kinds of insults is not original. NBA fans have a lot to say and have said plenty about the Lakers player. But some stars do tend to get way more brutal when they drop their assessments. Tracy Morgan follows that grain. The former SNL and 30 Rock star launched a massive diss at the young gun on live television.
Morgan was quick to say that James belongs on a different level of basketball, via NBC Sports.
did Tracy morgan diss BRONNY WTF HELL NAH https://t.co/u5N2cZKSx1
— MAL (@MindOfBron) October 20, 2026
James hasn't been performing well during the Lakers' NBA Preseason campaign. Coach JJ Redick gave him an average of 16.4 minutes over five games. The numbers and production just weren't there for the third-year player. He scored an average of just 2.2 points on a horrendous 25% field-goal percentage and an even worse 12.5% three-point percentage.
The Lakers did see him contribute in different ways, with his 2.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists. But those numbers clearly aren't cutting it in the NBA, let alone impressing the former SNL star. On top of all that, he also turns the ball over 2.4 times on average. The only bright spot might be his 100% free-throw shooting, but he won't always get to the charity stripe.
Coach Redick already outlined his dismay with James' production during NBA Preseason too.
"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. He's playing a lot of minutes, especially in the second half of games... Some of it is like the group he's with; I think that is not necessarily setting him up for success," the Lakers head coach said before their season opener.
These statements from Coach Redick and Morgan should be a wake-up call for the Lakers' young gun. Getting called out on live television during the Knicks' opening night is rough. But James has every opportunity to dispel these 'JUCO' disses with his production.