LeBron James and his eldest son Bronny James made history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in an official NBA game on October 23.
The James duo shared about three minutes on the court in the second quarter when the Los Angeles Lakers held a strong lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves at 51-35 in the NBA season opener.
This was a moment LeBron had long dreamed of. At 39, having achieved all possible accolades in the world’s most prestigious basketball league, LeBron now hoped to leave his mark by playing alongside his son. In American sports history, it’s rare for father-son pairs to play together, and the NBA had never witnessed such an event until now.
This historic moment of the James family sharing the court for the first time in the NBA was unforgettable.
This historic moment of the James family sharing the court for the first time in the NBA was unforgettable.On the night of October 22 at Crypto.com Arena, legendary baseball father-son duo Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. were also in attendance to celebrate with LeBron James’s family. Aside from them, other notable father-son pairs in American sports history include Tim Raines in baseball and Gordie Howe, Mark Howe, and Marty Howe in ice hockey.
However, unlike those pairs, where the father usually played when he was well past his peak, LeBron James is still performing at the top of his game. The 39-year-old legend scored 16 points, made four assists, and grabbed five rebounds in 35 minutes, helping the Lakers defeat the Timberwolves with a final score of 110-103. Meanwhile, Bronny didn’t showcase much in his three minutes playing alongside his celebrated father. The 20-year-old rookie missed a three-point attempt from his father’s pass and seemed somewhat hesitant in running the plays.
“I made no promises about father and son playing together,” Lakers Coach JJ Redick said in a post-game interview. “I wanted everything to happen naturally because the team’s success is the top priority. Bronny was on the court at a time that suited our game plan.”
Redick is Lakers’ new head coach this season and is the same age as LeBron James. With many stars attending and the James family sitting in the VIP section, Coach Redick might have already planned to give Bronny playing time before the game.
Bronny stirred controversy in the summer when Lakers selected him in the NBA draft. Many Lakers fans feel that he isn’t yet ready for the NBA due to his unremarkable college performances. Additionally, there are concerns about Bronny’s physical health after suffering a cardiac issue that kept him sidelined for an extended period, and his height of 6’2” is considered relatively modest for the league.
