LeBron James and his son, Bronny, made NBA history by playing together for the first time during the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason game against Phoenix. The father-son duo became the first to play in an NBA game at the same time, let alone on the same team. The memorable moment happened on Bronny’s 20th birthday, with fans cheering as he entered the game in the second quarter alongside his father. Despite some early turnovers, the James family shared the court briefly before being substituted out.
Bronny James, known as LeBron James Jr., was drafted by the Lakers after recovering from cardiac arrest and playing one season at USC. As the Lakers’ second-round pick, Bronny is expected to spend time refining his game with the South Bay Lakers in the G League. However, he will likely get the opportunity to play alongside his father early in the regular season. LeBron, who is entering his 22nd NBA season, has spoken for years about his desire to play in the NBA with one of his sons, and the Lakers made that dream a reality by drafting Bronny.
Despite LeBron’s age approaching 40 in December, he shows no signs of slowing down as the all-time leading scorer in the NBA. The Lakers have already discussed the logistics of the historic moment of father-son duo playing together in a regular season game, but a specific timeframe has not been determined yet. Both LeBron and Bronny have been preparing for this opportunity, scrimmaging together during workouts at the Lakers’ training complex. The team is eager to see the unique bond and talent that LeBron and Bronny can bring to the court together.
In the regular season, LeBron and Bronny will join a select group of fathers and sons who have shared a professional sports field in North America. The Griffey family in baseball and the Howe family in hockey are notable examples of fathers and sons who have played together at the highest level. The Lakers have four more preseason games before they start the regular season at home against Minnesota on October 22. While LeBron rested in the preseason opener, both he and Bronny have shown their commitment to making their historic on-court partnership a success in the NBA.
The father-son dynamic between LeBron and Bronny adds another dimension to the Lakers’ already star-studded roster, with Anthony Davis also making his preseason debut alongside the duo. Fans and basketball enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the regular season debut to witness the historic moment when the James duo officially takes the court together. The Lakers’ coaching staff is working out the details and logistics to ensure a seamless and successful transition when LeBron and Bronny share the court in a meaningful game. The bond and talent between this father-son duo are set to make a lasting impact on the NBA and basketball history.