LeBron James, who grew up without a father, has often expressed how much he cherishes every moment with his three children. His dreams materialized on Sunday night when he played alongside his son, Bronny, for the Los Angeles Lakers, marking a historic moment in the NBA.
LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son duo to compete in an NBA game during the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns, where they played together for just over four minutes in the second quarter.
“It’s pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family,” LeBron remarked. “It’s definitely a moment that I will never forget.”
This significant family milestone coincided with Bronny’s 20th birthday, offering a celebratory note for 39-year-old LeBron, who has expressed a wish to have this opportunity since Bronny’s high school days.
LeBron highlighted the emotional weight of this experience, stating, “For a father, it means everything. For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have that influence on your son… that’s one of the greatest things a father could ever hope for.”
Bronny entered the game as a substitute at the start of the second quarter and joined his father on the court at Acrisure Arena in the Coachella Valley. Prior to the game, head coach JJ Redick informed Bronny of this unique opportunity, though Bronny maintained his composure.
“I was pretty psyched for that,” Bronny said.
While Bronny is more reserved about the experience, he acknowledged the need to focus on their on-court roles. “I’m always thinking about, ‘That’s my dad!’ because that’s literally my dad,” he said, adding, “But when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate. That’s all.”
Their initial minutes together were marked by a few missteps; Bronny had two turnovers while LeBron had one. After LeBron made a three-pointer, he assisted Bronny’s shot attempt, which unfortunately missed.
“I was really hoping that wing 3 would have gone in,” Redick mentioned with a smile. “That would have been a cool moment. But they’ll have a lot of moments together, I’m sure.”
Bronny exited the game after just over four minutes, with LeBron following shortly after. LeBron finished the first half with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists before watching the second half from the bench. Bronny played about nine minutes in the second half but did not score in the Lakers’ 118-114 defeat to the Suns.
“I just told him, ‘Keep getting better,’” LeBron said. “He’s young. He wants to continue to improve, and that’s what’s most important.”
LeBron is set to begin his 22nd NBA season, while Bronny, who was the Lakers’ second-round draft pick this summer, played one season at Southern California before entering the draft following his recovery from cardiac arrest over a year ago.
Redick noted that this pairing would be a natural part of the game, rather than a gimmick, expressing excitement over being part of this moment. He acknowledged LeBron’s longevity and Bronny’s hard work to reach this juncture.
The 6-foot-2 Bronny is expected to spend much of the upcoming season enhancing his skills with the South Bay Lakers of the G League, with the likelihood of playing alongside his father in an official game during the regular season, which starts on October 22 against Minnesota.
LeBron, who is nearing his 40th birthday in December, continues to perform at an elite level. Despite sitting out the Lakers’ preseason opener against Minnesota, he has shown no signs of slowing down.
LeBron began his journey of fatherhood in 2004, shortly after being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, with the birth of Bronny and followed by two more children, Bryce and Zhuri.
The duo has been training together extensively, preparing for this unique chance to play side by side. As they step into the regular season, they will join an exclusive group of fathers and sons who have played together in North American professional sports.