A video shared by the Los Angeles Lakers on TikTok showed Zhuri James closely watching her father, LeBron James, during his pregame routine. Instead of simply standing courtside, Zhuri appeared to study his movements carefully and imitate them. At one point she even looked as if she was taking mental notes, repeating the same moves before glancing back at her dad for approval.
The interaction quickly became a wholesome viral clip. For many fans it looked like a glimpse of how the youngest member of the James family has grown up around the game.
Why the video sparked a bigger conversation
The clip didn’t just generate reactions because of the father-daughter dynamic, which happened to be a very sweet moment between them. It also revived a long-running question among fans: could Zhuri eventually follow the same basketball path as her brothers Bronny and Bryce James?
Both have pursued basketball, making the idea of a third sibling joining the sport an intriguing thought for fans online. Seeing Zhuri mirror LeBron’s footwork and movements added fuel to that speculation. The reality: Zhuri’s main sport isn’t basketball.
Despite the viral reactions, the current reality is different. Zhuri is primarily focused on volleyball.. The youngest James already shown interest and development in that sport, which the James family has openly supported. LeBron himself has addressed the topic before, acknowledging that while his daughter has grown up around the game, basketball isn’t necessarily her path.
“She’s a volleyball player, but she’s been around the game for a while… got good handles… good form too.”
Growing up around the game still shows
Even if volleyball remains her focus, it’s not surprising that Zhuri looks comfortable with a basketball. She has spent her entire life around the NBA environment – from practices to arenas – while watching one of the greatest players in league history prepare for games.
LeBron himself once called Zhuri his “favorite female athlete,” highlighting how proud he is of her athletic side regardless of the sport she chooses. So while fans might imagine another James family basketball star, the viral clip likely says more about how naturally the game surrounds her life than about her future plans.
For now, it’s just a father-daughter moment. The TikTok video ultimately shows something simpler than a future career hint. It’s a young athlete watching her dad – and having fun copying him.
Whether Zhuri stays with volleyball or one day experiments more with basketball, the moment resonated because it captured a universal scene: a kid learning by watching a parent. And when that parent happens to be LeBron James, the internet tends to notice.
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