In an unprecedented NBA event, LeBron James and his son Bronny James played together in the NBA during the Los Angeles Lakers’ victorious match against the Minnesota Timberwolves. This marks the first time a father-son duo has competed in the NBA simultaneously and on the same team. In Bronny’s NBA debut game, they shared the court for roughly two and a half minutes. LeBron, the veteran superstar, scored a respectable 16 points.
In addition to LeBron’s contribution, the Lakers had strong performances from other key players. Anthony Davis stood out with an impressive 36 points and 16 rebounds. Rui Hachimura also chipped in, adding a further 18 points. The Lakers’ win also marked a successful debut for their new head coach, JJ Redick. The 15-year NBA veteran was hired by the Lakers for his first ever coaching position.
On the Timberwolves’ side, Anthony Edwards netted the highest points for the team with 27. Other new additions to the Timberwolves roster, Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo also had an impact on the game, scoring 16 and 10 points respectively. This comes after the Timberwolves traded key player Karl-Anthony Towns to New York three weeks prior.
The loss for the Timberwolves signaled possible turbulence ahead in the post-Towns era. Despite Edwards’ impressive performance, the team struggled against the Lakers, especially against Davis. The Lakers’ largely unchanged roster demonstrated the benefit of continuity, playing disciplined ball on both ends and showcasing solid defense led by Davis.
Among the highlights of the game was Davis’ impeccable performance in the last stretch of the game where he either scored or assisted on 13 of Los Angeles’ next 15 points. LeBron’s 3-pointer sealed the win as he officially joined Vince Carter in the record books by playing in his 22nd career season, marking him as the sixth in career games played with 1,493, not including his 287 playoffs.
The Timberwolves are scheduled to face Sacramento on Thursday while the Lakers host Phoenix on Friday. The Lakers’ win underlines the benefits of maintaining a robust and experienced roster and solidifies LeBron’s distinguished career in the NBA, now complemented by the arrival of his son, Bronny.
