Bronny and LeBron James Make NBA History, Become First Father-Son Duo to Share Court

4x NBA MVP LeBron James and his son, Bronny, made history last night when they became the first father-son duo to share an NBA court during the Los Angeles Lakers’ pre-season game against the Phoenix Suns. The 39-year-old veteran is in his 22nd NBA season, while Bronny was selected 55th overall by the Lakers during the 2024 NBA Draft.

Bronny came on in the second quarter of the game to play around four minutes with his father. To make the occasion even more special, it was Bronny’s 20th birthday. During their four minutes on the court, Bronny committed two turnovers, while LeBron also committed one. However, the 39-year-old legend also drained a three-pointer, before setting a screen for his son’s three-point attempt, but Bronny missed. Apart from four minutes with his father, JJ Redick handed Bronny nine more minutes. However, the 20-year-old failed to get any points, ending the match with just two rebounds. Unfortunately, the Lakers went on to lose the game by a scoreline of 114-118. Despite that, it was a pretty special day for the James family. 

Following the game, LeBron James said, “It's pretty cool for the both of us, and especially for our family. It's definitely a moment that I will never forget." Bronny joined the Lakers after enduring a tumultuous freshman season with the USC Trojans. The 20-year-old guard faced a serious setback when he suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2023, but he showed incredible resilience and made a full recovery. By December 2023, he was ready to hit the court for his collegiate debut. However, Bronny averaged just 4.8 points, 2.1 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game in his first collegiate season with the USC Trojans. Despite his subpar freshman season, Bronny enrolled for the 2024 NBA Draft, where he was drafted by LA with the 55th pick. 

With Bronny's health scare now firmly in the rearview mirror, the 20-year-old is determined to make his mark in the world of basketball. Playing at the pinnacle of the sport alongside his father is an experience few can comprehend. For LeBron, it still feels surreal. During a recent interview, King James stated that, “For a father, it means everything. For someone who didn't have that growing up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and have that influence on your son, be able to have moments with your son - and the ultimate, to be able to work with your son - that's one of the greatest things that a father could ever hope for or wish for." With a long and arduous season ahead, NBA fans will surely get to see more of Bronny and LeBron. But the real question is: can they become the first father-son duo to play in the playoffs?