LeBron James and his son Bronny made history on Tuesday night, becoming the first father and son duo to play together in an NBA game during the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener.
The two checked into the game with four minutes remaining in the second quarter, receiving a warm ovation from the home crowd who recognized the significance of the moment. LeBron, at 39 years old and the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, had already been on the court for 13 minutes before sharing the floor with his 20-year-old son.
LeBron is a four-time NBA champion and a 20-time All-Star, while Bronny recently entered the league as a second-round pick for the Lakers after one season in college basketball. Their appearance together marks a unique milestone as they are the first father and son to compete in the NBA simultaneously and on the same team.
Notably, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who once made history as the first father-son duo in Major League Baseball, were present at the game. The Griffeys played 51 games together for the Seattle Mariners in the early 1990s. They met with the James family during pregame warmups for a photo opportunity and a friendly conversation, celebrating their respective family legacies.
LeBron had expressed a desire to play alongside Bronny years ago while his son was still in high school. That dream came to fruition when Bronny declared for the NBA draft, and the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick.