EL SEGUNDO — It was billed as a few sons of superstars going head-to-head.

ESPN aired Monday night’s boys basketball game between Chatsworth’s Sierra Canyon and New York’s Christ the King, but all eyes were watching Bronny James and Kiyan Anthony, more famous for the names on the backs of their jerseys than the front.

It fell on the 20-year anniversary of a famous moment: When James first played on national TV against high school powerhouse Oak Hill Academy. But as far as LeBron James was concerned, the sequel – which he watched courtside near Carmelo Anthony, one of his best friends and a famous Oak Hill alum – was a family affair.

“It’s all part of the history,” James said Tuesday at the Lakers’ shootaround. “It’s pretty cool to be able to support my boys and support my nephew (Kiyan), support my brother (Carmelo) as well. And us being there just watching our kids doing what they love to do, and that’s play the game of basketball.”

The showcase wasn’t exactly the same. In his national debut in 2002, LeBron James scored 31 points with 13 rebounds and six assists while beating then-No. 1 Oak Hill. A guard, Bronny James finished with 12 points, six rebounds and three assists in the 62-51 win for the Trail Blazers. Kiyan Anthony finished with eight points.

But the hype machine for the next generation of these basketball dynasties is in full swing. Now a high school senior, Bronny has been on national TV before, and he boasts 6.8 million followers on Instagram. LeBron’s younger son, Bryce, is on a similar path, announcing a name, image and likeness deal with Klutch Sports on Monday. While not boasting quite the massive following of either James brother, Kiyan Anthony is a highly regarded 6-foot-4 sophomore with half a million Instagram followers.

The spectacle – including a crowd that included Scottie Pippen, Kim and Khloe Kardashian and more of the celebrity set – stands in stark contrast to James’ rise. The son of a single mother in Akron, Ohio, the eventual hoopla that came to surround James’ games as a senior were novel at the time. High school games rarely received national airtime. James was scrutinized for receiving perks like a Jeep Hummer and throwback jerseys.

Now James’ sons are cashing in on high school NIL deals and their immense social media presence. Reflecting on that key difference, James sounded wistful.

“It’s the times that we live in and they have a following,” James said. “Being able to be yourself and take advantage of yourself of your likeness – and have someone not be able to take advantage of you – being able to own your name and likeness is something that’s pretty cool.”

There’s more ahead for Sierra Canyon, which travels to face LeBron’s alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary on Saturday night in Columbus, Ohio. It’s a homecoming for the James family, even though Bronny and Bryce have come of age on the court in California.

Bronny has a significant college (or G League) decision ahead of him this season, with major blue-blood college programs involved in his recruiting. James made headlines last season by saying he wanted to play with Bronny in the NBA, adding that money was no object. But James said his eldest son is ready to handle all the pressure thrown his way.

“He’s so unfazed, and he does nothing that bothers him really, at all,” James said of Bronny. “Just a kid who loves playing the game of basketball. Loves being a big brother, loves being a role model to his generation. And it’s pretty cool that he’s been able to experience some of the things that I was able to experience. But at the end of the day, he’s creating his own path and creating his own legacy. So I love that more than anything.”

SCHRÖDER FACES FORMER TEAM

For many other players, they’d be fighting words. When asked about Marcus Smart, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Dennis Schröder snickered: “He’s a good defender. He flops a lot.”

But Schröder is talking about a former teammate – a player with whom he shared a jersey for all of 49 games last season with the Boston Celtics before he was traded to Houston at the deadline. He played in green long enough to participate in two matchups with the Lakers – then his former team – and scored 21 points in one of them.

Lakers-Celtics is always a little spicy, but perhaps a bit more for Schröder who admitted it was bittersweet when Boston reached the Finals last season.

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“I mean, (team president) Brad Stevens and me, we talked all summer that summer – a year ago,” he said. “I liked what he had planned for me and I mean, it’s always tough when I’m on a one-year deal. They got something in return and like I said, that’s business. At the end of the day, you can’t take it personal. But the time there was good.”

The Celtics rolled in Tuesday night on the heels of back-to-back losses, but their 21-7 start has still been the best in the NBA despite the offseason controversy that saw them suspend coach Ime Udoka. Under former assistant Joe Mazzulla, the team hasn’t missed a beat.

Schröder said he and Mazzulla bonded over a love of soccer: Mazzulla used to cite Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola as one of the best coaches in any sport. Mazzulla may have a bright future in the head coaching business himself.

“I respect him,” Schröder said. “He brought a lot to the table when I was there. So, I like what they’re doing and he’s probably going to stay the head coach as well.”

LeBron said last night’s game featuring his sons Bronny and Bryce going against Kiyan Anthony was a cool moment for the families, “being there just watching our kids do what they love to do.”

No wine bottle wager with Melo: “We don’t need a bottle of wine. We drink enough.” pic.twitter.com/46qSfep5Da

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) December 13, 2022

Klutch also announced yesterday that Bryce James, 15, is now a client. LeBron on his sons making NIL deals and having huge social media followings: pic.twitter.com/yaj9LwgjPD

— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) December 13, 2022