LOS ANGELES — LeBron James made history on Tuesday as he stepped onto the court for the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener, marking the beginning of his record-tying 22nd NBA season.
Just a quarter later, a remarkable moment occurred: my son joined me on the court.
Lakers ace James, at 39 years old, and his eldest son Bronny, who is 20, became the first father-son pair ever to play together in a regular-season NBA game.
This long-awaited moment unfolded with four minutes left in the second quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lakers coach JJ Redick looked to the bench, where he noticed both players. It became a reality when he called them to the scorer’s table. I settled on the sideline to witness it all unfold.
“Are you ready? Let’s focus on the intensity, alright?” LeBron was seen on NBA cameras advising Bronny. “Just play easy. Don’t stress over mistakes. Just go hard.”
Fans in the Crypto.com Arena began cheering as the two approached the scorer’s table.
“I could really feel the energy,” Bronny James expressed.
By the time Bronny made his official NBA debut on the court, the buzz created by his presence alongside his father was palpable.
In the audience, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. cheered, having previously made history in 1990 as the first father-son pair in MLB to play the game together. The two families greeted each other on the court before the game, capturing a few photos. Such family legacies in American professional sports are rare, with only a few other families like the Lynes in baseball and the Howe family in hockey holding similar credentials.
That night, LeBron stated that his main goal was for the Lakers to win their first season opener since 2016, which they achieved, defeating the Timberwolves 110-103, with LeBron scoring 16 points.
“However, sharing the court and checking in with my son is a moment I will forever cherish,” LeBron shared. “No matter how old I become or how much my memory may fade, I will always remember this incredible moment.”
He added, “I don’t know how it will resonate with us in the long run.”
During one play, Bronny passed the ball to LeBron at the top of the 3-point line, who then drove towards the basket before passing it back to his son for an open three-pointer. There was an excited roar from the crowd as the shot was taken, but it unfortunately missed. Bronny’s first stint in the NBA lasted just 2 minutes and 41 seconds before he was fouled out with 1:29 left in the half. He finished with one rebound and zero points.
“I was a bit nervous stepping into my first game,” Bronny admitted.
“It was intimidating at first, but once I got on the court and moved around, my nerves disappeared. I felt really good.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned that the plan had been to get LeBron and Bronny on the court together late in the first half. With the Lakers leading by a solid 16 points, it seemed like the right opportunity.
“I was curious why the crowd was so loud during the pause in play, and then it hit me, ‘That’s pretty cool!’
Redick noted that Bronny had been performing well in preseason practices, stating, “He’s been working hard throughout. He had some tough plays against Minnesota’s Julius Randle but otherwise played decently.”
Throughout the evening, LeBron and Bronny managed to treat each other as the teammates that they were, yet still recognized their familial bond. They kept it professional, high-fiving after the anthem, with LeBron playing the first five minutes before sitting near his son on the bench.
Despite having played together previously in preseason, those stats don’t count towards official NBA records, making Tuesday’s game their true debut together. The older James, being the all-time leading scorer and likely to break records for minutes played this season, reached an even deeper level of the experience by sharing it with his son.
Bronny, born in 2004 just after the start of LeBron’s second NBA season, has been motivated by watching his father throughout his career. Before the opening tip-off, LeBron recalled missing his children’s earlier years in school while working on his own career. “I’m really excited to share this moment with Bronny,” he said.
LeBron reminded reporters of Bronny’s medical struggles after suffering cardiac arrest during a USC practice in the summer of 2023, but noted that he made a commendable recovery and played his one college season averaging 4.8 points.
Bronny expressed that witnessing his father’s triumphant moments, such as the Cavaliers’ 2016 championship victory, has inspired his own ambitions in basketball. Watching LeBron’s recent performances during the Olympics solidified his determination to become part of this sport.
“Seeing all these moments, I thought, ‘Wow, I really want to be involved in this,’” Bronny shared.
Tuesday’s game marked Bronny’s first professional action, all while his father’s presence was a significant support.
“Everything went wonderfully today,” LeBron concluded.
