On Tuesday night’s NBA 2024-25 season opener, the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves in a game that saw history be made. For the first time in league history, a father and his son shared the same NBA court.
Late in the 2nd quarter of the Laker’s 110-103 win over the Timberwolves, LeBron James and Bronny James Jr. both stood up off the bench and prepared to enter the game. In response, the Laker crowd started cheering and Crypto.com Arena took out their camera phones in unison. At the time of entering the game, the Lakers had begun to pull away from the Timberwolves 51-35.
“You ready? Just play carefree… go out and play hard.” LeBron said to his son right before coming on.
The 6’2″ guard didn’t manage to score a bucket, but he defended All-Star Anthony Edwards which forced him to miss a shot. Bronny also had a few passing plays between him and — who else — LeBron James. Bronny was subbed out with just a few minutes remaining in the first half, and in total, they played approximately two and a half minutes together. His debut wouldn’t have made any groundbreaking impact on the league, but his debut was historical in its own right.
“Being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, something I will never forget,” LeBron James said. “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.”
Also in attendance was the James family — LeBron’s wife Savannah, son Bryce, and daughter Zhuri, who gathered after the game.
“Everything was just great today,” LeBron said. “Everything, from the moment I woke up. I saw my daughter before she went to school. I went to work, saw my son at work. Get to the game, just everything, man.”
Bronny, meanwhile, said he was focusing on keeping his head down and not letting the occasion get to him.
“I was a little anxious going into it,” said Bronny. “That first game stepping on the court, it’s a little nerve-wracking. But once we got on the court, we got up and down a couple times, it all went away and I felt pretty good.”
“Tried not to focus on everything that’s going on around me and trying to focus on going in as a rookie and not trying to mess up,” Bronny went on to say. “I totally did feel the energy and I appreciate the Laker Nation for showing the support for me and my dad.”
For JJ Redick’s first victory as both a head coach and Lakers coach, it was Anthony Davis who he really has to thank. The center recorded 36 points and 16 rebounds, and an overall monstrous defensive performance. It is his 100th game where he has recorded at least 25 points and 15 rebounds.
The Lakers will now get a few days rest before they play back-to-back home games against the Phoenix Suns on Friday and the Sacramento Kings the next day.
