LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history, has often reflected on his upbringing without a father and cherishes every opportunity to share memorable moments with his three children. This sentiment reached a pinnacle when he took to the court on Sunday night alongside his son, Bronny, for the Los Angeles Lakers.
The duo made history as the first father and son to play together in an NBA game during the Lakers’ preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns. They shared the court for just over four minutes in the second quarter, making it a surreal experience for LeBron. “It’s pretty cool for both of us, especially for our family. It’s definitely a moment I will never forget,” he remarked.
Coincidentally, the special moment fell on Bronny’s 20th birthday, adding to the significance for LeBron, who has long dreamt of this opportunity since Bronny was in high school. While LeBron anticipates more chances to play together this season, he described their initial experience in uniform as feeling “not real.” “For a father, it means everything,” he said, expressing how much it means to share meaningful moments with his children, especially given his own childhood.
Entering the game as a substitute, Bronny joined his father at Acrisure Arena. Despite being informed by coach JJ Redick that he would be playing alongside LeBron, Bronny remained calm before and after the moment. “I was pretty psyched for that,” he admitted.
Navigating the dynamics of playing with his father, Bronny reflects on the dual nature of their relationship on the court. “I’m always thinking about, ‘That’s my dad!’, but when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate,” he explained.
The game saw its share of challenges, with both players committing turnovers in their first two minutes together. Nevertheless, moments like LeBron hitting a three-pointer and setting a screen for Bronny’s attempt underscored their potential on the court. Although Bronny failed to convert on the shot, coach Redick acknowledged the specialness of the moment they shared.
After a brief stint on the court, Bronny exited with just over four minutes left in the quarter, followed closely by LeBron. The latter finished the half with 19 points, five rebounds, and four assists in 16 minutes, then watched the remainder of the game from the bench. Despite not scoring in his nine minutes in the second half, Bronny received encouragement from LeBron, who emphasized the importance of continuous improvement and learning from experiences.
As LeBron prepares for his record-tying 22nd NBA season, Bronny, drafted as the Lakers’ second-round pick this summer, aims to develop his skills in the G League. Both have been preparing for this experience since LeBron returned from vacation after securing a gold medal at the Paris Olympics.
With the regular season set to begin on October 22 against Minnesota, LeBron and Bronny are excited to soon take the court together again, joining an exclusive group of fathers and sons in North American professional sports who have played together.