NBA Fans found a new moment to replay after a short bench clip of LeBron James staring across at DeAndre Ayton started spreading online.
@PurpGolded shared the video, catching LeBron sitting back and locking eyes in Ayton’s direction, captioning it, “Why LeBron looking at Ayton like that [face with tears of joy emoji].” The few seconds were enough to pull NBA Fans straight into the replies.
Why LeBron looking at Ayton like that [face with tears of joy emoji] pic.twitter.com/VqQqSxGpuo
— 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝑮𝒐𝒍𝒅 [trophy emoji] (@PurpGolded) January 13, 2026
The reactions turned into theories almost immediately.
@sinnerward posted, “ayton just seems like an annoying person.” The line took off, with NBA Fans just having fun with it.
@DaBeanzr wrote, “Same vibes,” posting an old photo of LeBron giving a similar look to Dwyane Wade while both were on the bench. NBA Fans quickly jumped on this too, turning the stare into a running parallel.
Several NBA Fans pointed out how moments like this always travel. No sound, no context, just a face and an open door for interpretation.
What made the post stick was how familiar it felt. Fans have seen LeBron reactions become jokes for years, and every new one quickly joins the rotation.
For many Fans, the stare wasn’t just about Ayton. It became another reminder that LeBron’s expressions are almost their own genre online.
By the end of the night, Fans had turned a few quiet seconds on the bench into a full comment-section event.
NBA Fans Lose It Over LeBron-Bronny Stat Graphic From Same Game
The Ayton stare wasn’t the only moment from the game that grabbed NBA Fans.
During the broadcast, an on-screen graphic listed the “Most combined points scored by a father-son duo,” placing LeBron James and Bronny James at number one. The stat showed LeBron with 42,601 points and Bronny with 91.
@TheNBACentel posted the graphic and wrote, “LeBron James and Bronny James have the most combined points by a father–son duo in NBA history. [fire emoji].” NBA Fans immediately jumped on the contrast.
LeBron James and Bronny James have the most combined points by a father–son duo in NBA history. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ylz53MCuw5
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) January 12, 2026
@LunarityLIVE reposted it, writing, “LeBron James (42,601) Bronny (91),” alongside a photo referencing Kobe Bryant and Kwame Brown’s famous 62-and-1 game from 2005. That comparison sent NBA Fans into another wave of jokes.
Another post turned the stat into a visual gag.
@OnyxOdds shared a clip of friends carrying heavy furniture while one person “helps” lifting it with two fingers, captioning it, “Bronny helping to set that record.” NBA Fans quickly spread the clip, pairing it with screenshots of the broadcast graphic.
Across the replies, NBA Fans leaned into exaggeration. Some joked about “teamwork.” Others said it might be the funniest stat overlay the broadcast could have shown.
Several NBA Fans pointed out how the same game produced two viral moments for completely different reasons. One from a stare. One from a stat.
The thread filled with memes, edits, and screenshots as NBA Fans kept stacking punchlines.
By the end of the night, NBA Fans were sharing both moments together, showing how quickly a single game can turn into multiple timelines of its own.
