LeBron James recently shared the court with his 20-year-old son, Bronny, calling the experience “one of the greatest gifts.” The duo made history as the first father-son pair to play together in a regular season NBA game during the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The atmosphere was electric as Bronny took the court alongside his father with just four minutes remaining in the first half. In his brief three minutes of play, Bronny managed to grab a rebound, while LeBron contributed 16 points, helping the Lakers secure a 110-103 victory.
“It’s always been family over everything,” LeBron remarked during a post-game interview with Bronny. He expressed gratitude for their shared moment in the NBA, stating, “I lost a lot of time because of this league. To be able to work alongside my son is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever received from above, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”
Historically, no father-son duo has played together in the same NBA season, let alone on the same team. The family made a previous appearance together during a preseason game this month.
At 39, LeBron, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time champion, continues his career in his 22nd season without revealing when he plans to retire. Bronny was drafted 55th overall in June after a year at the University of Southern California and is eager to carve out his own identity in the league.
Bronny described his first moment checking into the game as unforgettable, expressing his gratitude for the opportunity. “I’m just extremely grateful for everything. I was given an amazing opportunity to come into this league and get better every day and learn every day,” he said.
LeBron reminded his son of the rarity of their situation, emphasizing the privilege of playing in the NBA. “This is not promised every day. There are only 450 of us, and you have to earn every moment,” he said. LeBron expressed confidence in Bronny’s commitment to improving, adding, “I’m super proud of him. He’s my lifeline, that’s for sure.”