LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, made NBA history on Tuesday night as they became the first father-son duo to play together in a regular-season game. The historic moment occurred during the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypto.com Arena.
The James duo took the court late in the second quarter, with the Lakers leading 51-35, to the delight of the home crowd. Coach J.J. Redick brought both players on, prompting an enormous roar from the audience.
In a moment fitting for Hollywood, the father-son combination was witnessed by baseball legends Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who famously played together for the Seattle Mariners in the 1990-91 season. “We made history; now we get to watch history,” Griffey Jr. said, posing for photos with LeBron and Bronny before the game.
LeBron, who turns 40 in December, had long dreamed of sharing the court with his son. “Just to run out the tunnel knowing that he’ll be in uniform, run out the tunnel with him, see him warm up, and be out there with the rest of my teammates,” LeBron said before the game. “This is my 22nd time running out on opening night… I won’t take it for granted.”
Bronny James, selected 55th in the 2024 NBA Draft, is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the G-League but made a brief appearance alongside his father in the pre-season. The 20-year-old has shown resilience, especially after suffering a cardiac arrest during a workout last year. LeBron remarked, “To see him play in a college Division I game the same year he had heart surgery… I knew there really was going to be nothing to stop him from anything he wants to do.”
Bronny, responding to critics who claim his spot on the Lakers is due to his father’s fame, said, “I’m just taking all that criticism and backlash and turning it into fuel.”
The historic appearance of LeBron and Bronny together on the court adds another remarkable chapter to the legendary career of LeBron James, while Bronny begins carving his own path in the NBA.
