LeBron James and his oldest son, Bronny James, made NBA history on Sunday when they played together for the Los Angeles Lakers for the first time.
The pair appeared in the Lakers’ 118-114 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns. They played together at the start of the second quarter in a game held in Palm Desert, California.
LeBron, at 39 years old, scored 19 points in just over 16 minutes before sitting out the rest of the game. However, Bronny, who turned 20 on Sunday, had a tougher time, going scoreless in 13 minutes on the court. He attempted only one shot.
After the game, LeBron shared his excitement about playing with his son. “It was cool for both of us, especially our family. It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget,” he said.
LeBron also said the experience felt unreal at times. “We came out of a timeout and we kind of stood next to each other. I kind of looked at him. It was like being in ‘The Matrix’ or something. It just didn’t feel real. But it was great to have those moments.”
This moment has been eagerly awaited since the Lakers picked Bronny in the 2024 NBA Draft.
Lakers coach J.J. Redick said he was thrilled to see the two play together. “It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to the longevity of LeBron and his competitive stamina. And it speaks to the work that Bronny has done to get to this point.”
LeBron, now in his 22nd season, said playing with Bronny has given him new energy. “We push each other. He pushes me. I push him. We push our teammates, and vice versa. So it’s just a very joyous moment not only for myself, but for our family.”
Despite criticism that Bronny is only on the team because of his father, Bronny said he uses the negative comments as motivation. “I’m just taking all that stuff, that criticism and backlash that people have given me and turning it into something that can fuel me.”
Bronny is expected to spend most of the season in the developmental G-League before joining the Lakers’ main team. The Lakers will start their 2024-2025 season on October 22, playing against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
