LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny, made NBA history on Sunday by sharing the court for the first time as teammates with the Los Angeles Lakers.
The duo took the floor together at the start of the second quarter during the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, located east of Los Angeles.
LeBron showcased his skills with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds before sitting out the second half, while Bronny faced a tougher challenge, finishing with zero points in just over 13 minutes and attempting only one shot.
“It was cool for both of us, especially for our family,” LeBron, 39, said after the game, celebrating Bronny’s 20th birthday. “It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget. As a father, it means everything. For someone who didn’t have a dad growing up, being able to influence your son and create special moments together is one of the greatest things a father could hope for.”
LeBron admitted that some moments on the court felt surreal. “We came out of a timeout and stood next to each other. I looked at him, and it felt like being in ‘The Matrix’—it just didn’t seem real. But it was great to experience those moments.”
Excitement had been building around the James duo making history as the first father-son pair to play in the same NBA lineup since the Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft in June.
“I’m thrilled to be part of this,” new Lakers coach J.J. Redick said after witnessing the James double-act. “As a basketball fan, it’s incredible. It highlights LeBron’s longevity and competitive spirit and reflects the hard work Bronny has put in to reach this point.”
Redick introduced Bronny to the floor with the Lakers leading 34-25 in the second quarter. LeBron noted that playing with Bronny has given him a renewed sense of purpose as he enters his 22nd season. “It’s a lot of excitement and pure joy to come to work every day, put in hard work with your son, and see him continue to grow,” James remarked. “We push each other. He pushes me, I push him, and we motivate our teammates. It’s a joyous moment not just for me but for our family. It’s pretty awesome and gives you a lot of life.”
Bronny mentioned during the Lakers’ recent media day that he is motivated by critics who suggest he owes his place on the roster to his superstar father. “I’m using all that criticism and backlash as fuel,” he stated.
Bronny is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League rather than with the Lakers’ senior squad.
The Lakers will kick off their 2024-2025 regular season with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.
AFP
