LeBron and Bronny Make History, Share the Court for the First Time with Lakers
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Two seasons ago, LeBron James made history by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA's all-time leading scorer, with his eldest son, Bronny, watching courtside. On Tuesday night, during the Los Angeles Lakers' season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the father-son duo created another historic moment by appearing in an NBA game together for the first time.
With four minutes left in the second quarter, LeBron and Bronny checked in, making them the first father-son pair to share the court in NBA history. LeBron, who had already logged 13 minutes, reentered the game alongside his son as the crowd at Crypto.com Arena erupted in cheers.
"That moment, us being at the scorer's table together, is something I will never forget," LeBron shared in a postgame conference with Bronny. "No matter how old I get, I will always remember that momentAd
For Bronny, it was even more special as it marked the first regular-season game of his career. "I tried to stay focused and not get overwhelmed, but I definitely felt the energy and support," he said.
Though their first stint on the court together didn't yield immediate success—the Lakers were outscored 7-2, and Bronny missed an open 3-point shot—there was excitement as LeBron passed to his son for the attempt.
Anthony Davis, who led the Lakers with 36 points and 16 rebounds, remarked, "Seeing them check in together gave me chills. We all wanted that 3-pointer to go in."
LeBron emphasized that their focus was on the team's success, not creating a spectacle. "We had a job to do when we checked in. It wasn’t about us, it was about playing the game the way our team needed."
Bronny finished the game with one rebound and was 0-for-2 from the field, while LeBron contributed 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists in the Lakers' 110-103 win.
Bronny, selected by the Lakers in the second round of the NBA Draft, had struggled in preseason but showed flashes of promise, scoring 17 points in a recent game against the Golden State Warriors. First-year Lakers coach JJ Redick praised Bronny and discussed how the team planned the moment for the father-son debut on the court, ensuring it unfolded naturally.
Adding to the significance of the night, Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr., the first father-son duo to play together in Major League Baseball, were in attendance. LeBron and Bronny took a moment to greet them before the game, marking a rare instance of father-son pairings in professional sports.
"This is a special moment in sports history," LeBron said, reflecting on the presence of the Griffeys and the unique achievement shared between him and Bronny.
In professional sports history, only a few father-son duos have played together, including hockey legend Gordie Howe with his sons and Tim Raines with his son in baseball. The Griffeys famously hit back-to-back home runs while playing for the Seattle Mariners in 1990.
Ken Griffey Jr., a longtime friend of LeBron, spoke fondly of their relationship, which dates back to LeBron's early days in the NBA. "We've been friends since he was 18. Wherever LeBron is, that's where I’m a fan," Griffey said.
The night was especially sweet for the Lakers as it ended in a win, with Anthony Davis noting, "This was the first time a big LeBron moment happened, and we won. It made everything even more special."
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