LeBron James and Son Bronny make NBA history in Lakers opener
LeBron James and his son Bronny James made history as the first father-son duo to share the court in an NBA game during the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The historic moment came with four minutes left in the first half of the Lakers’ 110-103 victory when head coach JJ Redick introduced both players. As the duo stepped onto the court, the sold-out crowd at the Crypto.com Arena erupted with cheers. At that point, the Lakers were leading 51-35.
The pair had also shared the court earlier this month in a pre-season game against the Phoenix Suns.
After the game, LeBron expressed his joy at being able to share this moment with his son.
“It’s always been family over everything,” LeBron said. “I lost a lot of time because of this league, so to have this moment where I can still work and play alongside my son is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received. I’ll make the most of it.”
The rare moment drew comparisons to Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who made history playing together for the Seattle Mariners in Major League Baseball between 1990 and 1991.
In his NBA debut, Bronny, 20, played three minutes in the first half. He missed both of his field-goal attempts but grabbed an offensive rebound.
LeBron, now in his 22nd NBA season, contributed eight points and three rebounds in 17 minutes before halftime, finishing the game with 16 points in 35 minutes.
Bronny described the experience as unforgettable:
“Walking up to the scorers’ table and checking in for the first time was a crazy moment I’ll never forget. I’m really grateful for the opportunity to play in this league and get better every day.”
Bronny was selected by the Lakers as a second-round draft pick from the University of Southern California (USC) in June. His arrival coincided with LeBron signing a new two-year contract with the franchise.
At 39 years old, LeBron remains the NBA’s all-time leading point scorer and a four-time NBA champion. Although he has yet to announce his retirement plans, he continues to make history alongside his son in what could be one of his final seasons.
