History was made in the NBA on October 23, 2024 in the Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. with 4:00 left in the second quarter, LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo in NBA history to play in a game together.
James Sr. was interviewed in the past about playing with his son in the future. It was a moment many years in the making. Lebron James was in his second NBA season when Bronny was born, and began his record-tying 22nd season this week. The 39-year-old is the league’s all-time leading scorer and widely considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time, with four NBA championships and four NBA MVP titles under his belt. He joined the Lakers in 2018 and was always asked if Bronny was going to play for the Lakers. The prospect became a reality when the team drafted Bronny James, LeBron James Jr., this summer in the second-round of the 2024 NBA draft after he played one season with the University of Southern California. Although the father son duo played together during a preseason game against the Phoenix Suns, which fell on Bronny’s 20th birthday, the real record-making was official in the NBA season.
Due to his famous name and his Dad being Lebron James one of the greatest of all time, many thought it was given to Bronny James to make the NBA. However, it really wasn’t an easy ride for Bronny. He went through a hard time as he suffered cardiac arrest during basketball practice last year at the University of Southern California and missed seven games of the season. James was back playing less than six months after the heart incident, although it’s not completely in the past.
As Bronny explained to NPR, “My days aren’t normal anymore, I still feel like I’m getting back, I’m getting back to where I was.” James had to do exercises for his breathing and strengthen his heart on top of playing basketball, so didn’t have any easier path to the NBA than anyone else.
Lebron and Bronny both substituted into the October game together, shedding their warm-up jackets as the arena filled with loud cheers. Before the game, the audience heard James’s advice to his son Bronny: “You see the intensity, right, just play care-free, though. Don’t worry about mistakes, just go out there and play hard,” as stated in NPR.
The two shared the court for only about two minutes, which was Bronny’s only playing time of the night. Although The pair didn’t have great nights in terms of performance, history was made which was not only a huge moment for fans, but also a great moment for the James family.
James Sr. was interviewed after the game and he told NPR, “It’s always been family over everything. I’ve lost a lot of time because of this league and committing to this league, being on the road at times and missing a lot of [Bronny’s] things, Bryce’s things and Zhuri’s things, to be able to have this moment where I’m working still and I can work alongside my son is one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten from the man above, and I’m gonna take full advantage of it.”
This moment of history will be remembered by fans and families forever. LeBron and Bronny James have not only redefined the possibilities of a sports legacy but have also inspired generations, proving that history is best made side by side.
