LeBron and Bronny James Make NBA History in the Los Angeles Lakers’ Season Opening Game
In a historic NBA moment on Tuesday night, LeBron James and his son Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play together in the league during the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener. This milestone achievement captivated fans, as the pair entered the game with just four minutes remaining in the second quarter, receiving a thunderous ovation from the home crowd at the Staples Center.
LeBron, who had already started the game, played 13 minutes before Bronny joined him on the court. At 39 years old, LeBron is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, while 20-year-old Bronny was selected by the Lakers in the second round of last summer’s draft. Their simultaneous presence on the court marks a first in the history of the NBA, with no other father and son having played together not only in the league but on the same team.
Their historic debut was witnessed by none other than Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who themselves made history in Major League Baseball as the first father-son duo to play together. They attended the game at the Lakers’ downtown arena, bringing back memories of their 51 games together with the Seattle Mariners during the 1990 and 1991 seasons.
Before the game, the James and Griffey families met during the pregame warmups, capturing photographs and sharing a warm conversation between these two legendary family lineages.
LeBron, a four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star, had expressed his aspiration to play alongside Bronny when his eldest son was still in high school. That dream came to fruition after Bronny entered the NBA draft following a single college season, and the Lakers selected him with the 55th overall pick, setting the stage for their historic on-court partnership.
