LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, made NBA history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in a game, as the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns in a preseason matchup.
In a historic moment for the NBA, LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, played together for the first time as the Los Angeles Lakers faced off against the Phoenix Suns in a preseason game. The game, held at Arcisure Arena, ended in a narrow 118-114 loss for the Lakers.
However, the highlight came early in the second quarter when Bronny checked into the game on his 20th birthday, joining his father on the court.
“For a father, it means everything,” LeBron James said. “For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have influence on your son. Be able to have moments with your son. And ultimately, to be able to work with your son. I think that’s one of the greatest things that a father can ever hope for or wish for.”
This milestone marks the first time a father and son have played together in an NBA game. LeBron, a 22-season veteran, expressed pride in sharing the court with his son, a moment he has been eagerly anticipating. Bronny, drafted 55th overall by the Lakers in June, has had a steady progression, despite still being a work-in-progress offensively.
Lakers head coach JJ Redick, recognizing the significance of the occasion, gave the pair a brief but impactful four-minute stint together, which included moments of defensive collaboration and joint efforts to argue a call. Although they didn’t connect on a potential assist, the game served as a glimpse of what’s to come in future father-son matchups.
“Just wanted to get them a chance to play together in preseason … within the flow of the game,” Redick said. “I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this. I really am. It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to LeBron’s longevity, but also his competitive stamina that he’s able to still be doing this in Year 22. It speaks to the work that Bronny has put in to get to this point and really just the fatherly care and love, and certainly the motherly care from Savannah as well.
“Bronny’s such a great kid and he’s a pleasure to be around.”
LeBron led the Lakers in the first half with 19 points, while Bronny, focusing on his defensive game, played 13 minutes, demonstrating his growing prowess as a defensive player. Despite not scoring, Bronny impressed his teammates and coaching staff with his work ethic and defensive awareness, a key area Redick has emphasized.
Bronny’s journey to the NBA has been particularly remarkable, given his recovery from cardiac arrest during his freshman year at USC. Now, as part of the Lakers roster, he continues to develop under the guidance of his father and teammates like Anthony Davis, who praised Bronny’s defensive skills.
While the historic father-son debut was brief, the moment signified a major achievement for both Jameses and hinted at more moments to come.
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