Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9), proper, steps onto the courtroom with Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James (23) throughout the first half of a preseason NBA basketball recreation Sunday in Palm Desert, Calif.
William Liang/AP
conceal caption
toggle caption
William Liang/AP
PALM DESERT, Calif. — LeBron James and his son, Bronny, made NBA historical past Sunday evening once they performed collectively for the primary time throughout the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason recreation in opposition to Phoenix.
LeBron and Bronny are the primary father and son to play in any NBA recreation on the identical time, not to mention on the identical staff. The James household’s exceptional second coincidentally occurred on Bronny’s twentieth birthday.
Bronny James entered the sport in its place to start the second quarter, becoming a member of his father on the courtroom out of the timeout. The gang at Acrisure Area within the Coachella Valley cheered on the point out of Bronny’s identify.
LeBron James is starting his record-tying twenty second season within the NBA, whereas LeBron James Jr. — recognized to all as Bronny — was the Lakers’ second-round draft choose this summer season. After recovering from cardiac arrest over a 12 months in the past, Bronny performed only one season at Southern California earlier than getting into the draft and becoming a member of the Lakers.
Issues weren’t instantly easy for the James household: Bronny dedicated two turnovers and LeBron made one other of their first two minutes collectively. Shortly after LeBron hit a 3-pointer moments later, LeBron obtained the ball to Bronny and set a display for his son’s 3-point try, however Bronny missed.
Bronny got here off for a substitute 4:09 into the second quarter, and LeBron got here off 25 seconds later on the subsequent lifeless ball.
Though LeBron will flip 40 in late December, the highest scorer in NBA historical past has proven no signal of slowing down with age. He has spoken for years about his longtime dream of taking part in within the NBA with certainly one of his sons, and the Lakers made it a actuality once they grabbed Bronny with the fifty fifth choose within the draft.
The 6-foot-2 Bronny is predicted to spend a lot of the upcoming season engaged on his recreation with the South Bay Lakers of the G League, however he’ll nearly actually get to play alongside his 6-foot-9 father in an actual recreation early within the common season.
Head coach JJ Redick mentioned the Lakers have already got mentioned the logistics of the following historic second, however he hasn’t predicted when it can occur.
LeBron sat out of the Lakers’ preseason opener in opposition to Minnesota final Friday evening, resting up after a full week of coaching camp following a busy summer season. Bronny had two factors on 1-for-6 capturing and three blocked photographs whereas taking part in 16 minutes in opposition to the Timberwolves.
The Lakers have 4 extra preseason video games — all outdoors Los Angeles whereas their dwelling enviornment is being renovated — earlier than they start the common season at dwelling in opposition to Minnesota on Oct. 22.
LeBron was early in his second NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he and his highschool sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, grew to become mother and father for the primary time in 2004. That they had two extra youngsters — son Bryce and daughter Zhuri.
LeBron and Bronny have been making ready for the possibility to play collectively ever since LeBron returned from a summer season trip after successful a gold medal with the U.S. staff on the Paris Olympics. Anthony Davis additionally made his preseason debut in opposition to the Suns after a equally busy summer season.
The daddy and son have scrimmaged collectively repeatedly throughout exercises on the Lakers’ coaching complicated, each as teammates and opponents. Redick mentioned they’ve even run pick-and-rolls collectively in preparation.
Within the common season, they’ll be part of a brief listing of fathers and sons who’ve shared a taking part in subject in North American skilled sports activities. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. performed along with the Seattle Mariners throughout elements of the 1990 and 1991 MLB seasons, whereas hockey nice Gordie Howe performed along with his sons Marty and Mark for the WHA’s Houston Aeros and the NHL’s Hartford Whalers.
