LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny, made NBA history with their much-anticipated debut together for the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles.
While LeBron shined with 19 points in just 16 minutes before sitting out the second half, Bronny struggled, going scoreless in over 13 minutes, attempting only one shot.
LeBron James, 39, reflected on playing alongside his son Bronny, who just turned 20 on Sunday, saying, “It was cool for both of us, especially our family… 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, to be able to have that influence on your son, to be able to have moments with your son, to work with your son – that’s one of the greatest things a father could ever hope for.”
LeBron admitted that there were moments on the court that felt surreal.
“We came out of a timeout and we kind of stood next to each other. I kind of looked at him. It was like being in The Matrix or something. It just didn’t feel real. But it was great to have those moments.”
Since the Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft in June, anticipation has grown over when the James duo would make history as the first father-son pair to appear in the same NBA lineup.
“I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this,” new Lakers coach JJ Redick said after the James double act.
“It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to the longevity of LeBron and his competitive stamina. And it speaks to the work that Bronny has done to get to this point.”
Bronny James was introduced to the floor by Redick in the second quarter, with the Lakers leading 34-25.
LeBron James has shared that playing alongside Bronny has given him a renewed sense of purpose as he embarks on the 22nd season of his illustrious career.
“It’s a lot of excitement, a pure joy, to be able to come to work every day, put in hard work with your son every day and be able to see him continue to grow,” James said.
“We push each other. He pushes me. I push him. We push our teammates, and vice versa. So, it’s just a very joyous moment not only for myself, but for our family.
“So, it’s pretty awesome. Gives you a lot of life.”
Bronny James addressed critics at the Lakers’ recent media day, who claimed his spot on the Lakers’ roster was solely due to his superstar father.
“I’m just taking all that stuff, that criticism and backlash that people have given me and turning it into something that can fuel me,” he said.
Bronny is expected to spend the majority of his rookie season in the developmental G League instead of with the Lakers’ main roster.
The Lakers will begin their 2024-25 regular season with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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