On Tuesday night, basketball legend LeBron James and his son Bronny James made history by becoming the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA. With four minutes remaining in the second quarter, the two checked into the game simultaneously, causing the Los Angeles Lakers' home audience to explode. This was a historic moment for basketball in general for the Lakers specifically.
Before joining his 20-year-old son Bronny James, LeBron James, who is already regarded as the NBA's all-time top scorer and one of the best players in the history of the sport, started the game and played 13 minutes. Bronny was thrown into the spotlight after being selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. He and his iconic father shared the floor in a scene they had both fantasized about for years.
Although it was great to watch the two play together on the court, many fans have been deeply moved by a video clip that showed them together on the bench early in the game. TNT cameras captured LeBron giving his son Bronny James advice on the bench before they stepped onto the court together. "Y'all ready? You see the intensity, right? Just play carefree, though," LeBron told Bronny, encouraging him to focus on effort rather than the pressure of the occasion.
Watch the video here:
LeBron: "You ready?"
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) October 23, 2024
Bronny: "Yup."
This LeBron and Bronny moment mic’d up ❤️🎙️ pic.twitter.com/ffzTOoIdCx
Los Angeles Lakers won first match of NBA season
During their two-and-a-half minutes on the court together, Bronny pulled down an early rebound but missed a tip-in attempt, while LeBron missed two perimeter attempts before concluding with a forceful slam. When Bronny was replaced with 1:19 left in the second quarter, the crowd gave him another thunderous ovation for his presence alone, even though his first NBA jump shot, a 3-pointer, missed.
With eight points, three rebounds, and one block in the first half, LeBron had a fantastic start to the game, while Bronny had a somewhat harder time. Even though Bronny's first NBA jump shot, a 3-pointer, missed, the crowd nevertheless gave him a standing ovation when he was replaced with 1:19 left in the second quarter. Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-103, despite Bronny's absence from the game.