LeBron James might not want to go by “Dad” on the court, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to dish out wisdom to his NBA-playing son.
LeBron and Bronny James made history on Tuesday night in Los Angeles — in a 110-103 Lakers win — as the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together, and before the 20-year-old checked in for the first time with the Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, his dad had some words for him.
“You see the intensity, right?” LeBron asked before Bronny answered in the affirmative, as captured by the TNT broadcasat.
Bronny James handles the ball as LeBron James sets a pick during the first half of the Lakers’ 110-103 season-opening win on Oct. 22, 2024. AP“Just play carefree, though,” LeBron said. “Don’t worry about mistakes, just go out and play hard.”
Bronny checked into his first regular season game with four minutes left in the second quarter, and his dad came back into the game to join him.
“History tonight, the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game,” play-by-play announcer Ian Eagle said on TNT. “This is all in the family — and what a celebration for the James family.”
Bronny played three minutes in his first NBA go-around, missing two field goals.
“That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, it’s a moment I’m never going to forget,” LeBron said after the Lakers’ win. “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.”
LeBron and Bronny James check into the game next to head coach JJ Redick during the second quarter of the Lakers’ opening-night win. APBronny finished with one rebound and no points while LeBron had 16 points and five rebounds.
“(I) tried not to focus on everything that’s going on around me, and tried to focus on going in as a rookie and not trying to mess up,” Bronny said. “But yeah, I totally did feel the energy, and I appreciate Laker Nation for showing the support for me and my dad.”
Before the proceedings, the James family met with another famous historic sports family.
The two hung out with baseball legends Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr., who made history of their own in 1990 when they played together for the Seattle Mariners.
Now, 21 years after LeBron took the court with the Cavaliers for his own NBA debut, he got to play with his son as a pro for the first time.
— with AP
