LeBron and Bronny James made history on Tuesday night by becoming the first father and son duo to play together in the NBA, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener.
With four minutes remaining in the second quarter, both LeBron and his 20-year-old son entered the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves simultaneously, drawing a rousing ovation from the home crowd, who recognised the significance of the moment. LeBron had already played 13 minutes before teaming up with Bronny for approximately two and a half minutes of action.
LeBron is renowned as one of the greatest players in NBA history, boasting four championship titles and 20 All-Star selections, while Bronny James was drafted by the Lakers in the second-round last summer. Their appearance together makes them the first father and son to compete in the top tier of basketball simultaneously, let alone on the same team.
The seasoned basketball player stated, “That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, it’s a moment I’m never going to forget.
“No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.”
On the night, LeBron scored 16 points, despite missing two perimeter shots before completing a dunk. Bronny contributed with an early offensive rebound and attempted a tip-in, followed by his first NBA jump shot—a three-pointer that fell short. He exited the game shortly thereafter, with 1:19 left in the second quarter, receiving yet another round of applause.
Bronny stated, “(I) tried not to focus on everything that’s going on around me and tried to focus on going in as a rookie and not trying to mess up.
“But yeah, I totally did feel the energy, and I appreciate Laker Nation for showing the support for me and my dad.”
LeBron had first discussed his aspiration to play alongside Bronny several years ago while his eldest son was still in high school. This dream came to fruition after Bronny declared for the draft as a teenager, following a single season in college, with the Lakers selecting him as the 55th overall pick.
Frances Ibiefo
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