LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history as first father-son teammates

LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny James, etched their names into NBA history on Sunday by playing together for the first time.

The historic moment took place during the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason matchup against the Phoenix Suns, a game that ended in a narrow 118-114 loss for the Lakers in Palm Desert, California.

The father-son duo appeared side by side at the start of the second quarter, marking a milestone long anticipated by NBA fans.

While LeBron, a four-time NBA champion, dazzled with 19 points in just over 16 minutes before sitting out the second half, Bronny struggled to find his rhythm, scoring no points in 13 minutes of play and attempting just one shot.

Despite the performance gap, the experience held immense sentimental value for both LeBron and Bronny. LeBron, who turned 39 this year, spoke fondly about the significance of the moment.

“It was cool for both of us, especially our family,” LeBron shared. “It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget.”

Reflecting on the experience as a father, LeBron expressed how much it meant to play with his son. “For someone who didn’t have a dad growing up, to be able to have that influence on your son, to be able to have moments with your son, to work with your son — that’s one of the greatest things a father could ever hope for,” he said.

LeBron also admitted there were moments on the court that felt surreal. “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 milestone has been highly anticipated since Bronny James was selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft earlier this year.

The historic event further cements the legacy of the James family in NBA history, as they become the first father-son duo to appear together in the same lineup. Although Bronny’s performance on the night may not have been spectacular, the significance of the occasion transcends the game itself.

The preseason appearance sets the stage for more father-son moments as the younger James continues his NBA journey under the watchful eye and guidance of his legendary father.

“I’m thrilled that I get to be a part of this,” new Lakers coach J.J. Redick said Sunday after the James double-act.

“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.”

Redick introduced Bronny James to the floor with the Lakers leading 34-25 in the second quarter.

LeBron James has said that playing with Bronny on the same team has given him a new lease on life as he enters the 22nd season of a glittering career.

“It’s a lot of excitement, a pure joy, to be able to come to work every day, put in hard work with your son every day and be able to see him continue to grow,” James said.

“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.

“So it’s pretty awesome. Gives you a lot of life.”

Bronny said at the Lakers recent media day he was fueled by the words of critics who have suggested he owes his place on the Lakers roster entirely to his superstar father.

“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,” he said.

Bronny James is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League rather than the Lakers senior squad.

The Lakers open their 2024-2025 regular season campaign with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22.