LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny, carved out a historic moment in NBA history on Sunday, taking the court together for the first time as teammates for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The much-anticipated debut unfolded in the second quarter of the Lakers’ preseason clash against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, California, which ended in a close 118-114 loss for the Lakers.
LeBron shined on the court, racking up 19 points in just over 16 minutes before sitting out the second half.
Meanwhile, Bronny faced challenges in his debut, finishing with zero points after 13 minutes on the court, where he attempted only one shot.
LeBron, 39, acknowledged the surreal experience of playing alongside Bronny, who celebrated his 20th birthday on game day.
“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
“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,” LeBron shared.
The basketball world has eagerly awaited the moment the James duo would take the court together since the Lakers drafted Bronny as the 55th overall pick in June.
Lakers’ head coach, J.J. Redick, echoed the excitement, saying, “I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this.
“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.”
LeBron shared that playing with his son has added a fresh spark to his 22nd NBA season.
“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
“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,” LeBron said.
Bronny, too, has his sights set on proving himself. At the Lakers’ recent media day, he addressed critics who claim he’s only on the roster due to his famous 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.
While Bronny’s primary focus will likely be in the G-League for his rookie season, he’s eager to make his mark.
The Lakers are set to begin their 2024-2025 regular season on October 22, hosting the Minnesota Timberwolves, as fans continue to watch this father-son journey unfold.
