On October 23, in the preseason game between the LA Lakers and Phoenix Suns, an unprecedented moment in basketball history occurred when LeBron James and his son Bronny took to the court together.
On the evening of October 22 at the Crypto.com Arena, baseball father-son duo Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. were also present to celebrate with the James family. Other famous father-son pairs in American sports include Tim Raines in baseball and Gordie Howe along with his sons Mark and Marty Howe in ice hockey.
This was a moment LeBron had dreamed of for a long time. At 39, having achieved every glory in the world’s top basketball league, LeBron only hoped to leave his mark by playing alongside his son. In American sports history, very few father-son pairs have competed together, and in the NBA, this was the first time it ever happened.
The special James family moment came when LeBron and Bronny were sent onto the court together early in the second quarter by coach JJ Redick. The father and son played together for four minutes, cheered on by the crowd at Acricuse Arena in California. LeBron scored 19 points, contributed four assists, and had five rebounds for the Los Angeles Lakers in 16 minutes of play, while Bronny, though scoreless with four turnovers, had an unforgettable experience on his 20th birthday.
LeBron led the game in scoring, but the Lakers still fell to the Suns 114-118 in this NBA 2024-2025 preseason match. When asked about the feeling of playing alongside his son, LeBron shared, “For someone like me who grew up without a father, playing with my son is one of the greatest experiences of my life.”
“I didn’t promise the father and son they’d play together,” said Lakers coach JJ Redick during the post-game press conference. “I wanted everything to happen naturally, as the team’s results are most important. Bronny got on the court when it fit our strategy.” Redick, the Lakers’ new coach this season and the same age as LeBron, may have intended to give Bronny playtime from the beginning, as reported by ESPN, which noted the presence of many stars and the entire James family in the VIP seats.
Since the Lakers drafted Bronny this summer, the decision has sparked much debate. Some Lakers fans argue that he may not be ready for the NBA due to his relatively unremarkable college record. Additionally, there are questions about Bronny’s fitness after he suffered a heart issue that kept him off the court for a long time, along with his relatively modest height of just 6’2” for NBA standards.
ESPN commented, “It wouldn’t be surprising if the Lakers quickly moved Bronny to the G-League after this historic milestone with his father. This would be better for him, as he’s clearly not yet ready to compete in the NBA. Forced decisions rarely yield good results.”
Nevertheless, this remains a memorable milestone in NBA history and the perfect birthday gift for Bronny on his 20th birthday.
