The Los Angeles Lakers, one of the most prestigious sports franchises, celebrated a historic moment on Tuesday night when LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game.
LeBron, at 39 years old and in his record-tying 22nd NBA season, started the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Bronny, 20, made his NBA debut by joining his father on the court with four minutes left in the second quarter. The pair entered the game simultaneously, eliciting fan cheers at Crypto.com Arena.
Before stepping onto the court, LeBron shared some fatherly advice with Bronny, which was captured by a TNT Sports microphone. “You see the intensity, right? Just play carefree though. Don’t worry about mistakes. Just go out and play hard,” he said.
Bronny played for about two and a half minutes, finishing with two missed shots and one rebound. The Lakers won the game 110-103, with LeBron scoring 16 points and Anthony Davis leading all scorers with 36 points and 16 rebounds.
After the game, both LeBron and Bronny expressed their feelings about this milestone. “It’s family. It’s always been family over everything. I lost a lot of time because of this league... So to be able to have this moment where I’m working still and I can work alongside my son, it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten from the man above, and I’m going to take full advantage of it," LeBron stated after the game.
Bronny described the surreal experience of checking into the game alongside his father. “That’s a crazy moment I’ll never forget. I’m just extremely grateful,” he said.
LeBron, visibly proud, concluded the interview by patting Bronny on the shoulder and saying, “I’m super proud of him, and he’s my lifeline, that’s for sure.”
Earlier this month, the two had played together during a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, but this game marked their official entry into the NBA record books as the first father-son duo.
Same Feat different game
Witnessing the moment were notable figures, including Hall of Fame baseball player Ken Griffey Jr., who, along with his father, was the first father-son duo to play in the same MLB game. “It’s a big deal for my dad and I to be there,” Griffey Jr. shared before the game. “We made history, now we get to watch history. So that’s what’s going to be cool about it.”
Before the game, the Jameses and Griffeys enjoyed some lighthearted moments together, taking photos on the court. The Jameses’ achievement joins a select group of multi-generational pairings in major American sports, including hockey’s Howe family and the Raineses in baseball. Gordy Howe played in the NHL with his sons Mark and Marty, while Tim Raines shared the outfield with his son Tim Raines Jr. in 2001.
