As LeBron and Bronny rose from their seats at the end of the bench and made their way to the scorer’s table, excitement rippled through the Crypto.com Arena crowd, culminating in a roar of applause as the duo removed their warmup jackets and officially entered the game.
The much-anticipated moment unfolded with four minutes remaining in the first half, as both LeBron and Bronny checked into the game, contributing to the Lakers’ solid 51-35 lead against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Just moments after stepping onto the court, LeBron James attempted a 3-pointer but missed. Meanwhile, Minnesota forward Julius Randle scored over Bronny James on the following possession.
Bronny played three minutes in the first half, missing both of his shots but managing to grab an offensive rebound. LeBron contributed eight points and three rebounds in 17 minutes before halftime. Among the historical witnesses were Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., the first father-son duo to play together in Major League Baseball.
“That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, something I will never forget,” LeBron said in a joint postgame news conference with Bronny. “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.”
LeBron James.
Bronny James.The first father-son duo to play together in the NBA! pic.twitter.com/naadFLoPmh
— NBA (@NBA) October 23, 2024
Bronny James, 20, had his first chance to play alongside his father during a preseason game on October 6. Selected 55th overall by the Lakers in this year’s draft, he has made history as the first son to share the court with his father, LeBron James, who began his 22nd NBA season on Tuesday at the age of 39. LeBron is a remarkable 20-time All-Star, four-time Most Valuable Player, and four-time NBA champion. He signed a new two-year deal with the Lakers following Bronny’s arrival at the franchise.
Bronny is anticipated to spend the majority of his rookie season in the G-League, rather than joining the Lakers’ main roster. Nevertheless, LeBron James expressed his joy on Tuesday at the opportunity to support his son as he embarks on his professional basketball journey. The 20-year-old’s journey to the NBA is even more extraordinary considering that just over a year ago, he experienced a cardiac arrest during a workout with his University of Southern California teammates.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
