LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny James, shared a historic moment on Sunday, becoming the first father-son duo to appear together for the Los Angeles Lakers. The much-anticipated debut occurred during the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns. LeBron shined with 19 points in just over 16 minutes on the court, while Bronny, playing 13 minutes, was held scoreless and attempted only one shot.
LeBron, 39, reflected on the special moment: “It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget. As a father, it means everything. For someone who didn’t have a dad growing up, to have these moments with your son is one of the greatest things a father could ever hope for.”
There was a surreal feeling for LeBron during the game. “We came out of a timeout and stood next to each other. It was like being in ‘The Matrix.’ It just didn’t feel real,” he said.
The historic game also marked Bronny’s 20th birthday, adding to the significance of the moment. Lakers coach J.J. Redick, who orchestrated the duo’s appearance in the second quarter, praised the milestone, saying it reflected both LeBron’s incredible longevity and Bronny’s hard work to reach this level.
While Bronny will likely spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League, LeBron expressed the joy and motivation he feels playing alongside his son as he enters his 22nd NBA season: “It’s a lot of excitement, pure joy… We push each other, and it gives you a lot of life.”
The Lakers open their 2024-25 season against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22nd.
