By In a moment that merged NBA history with Hollywood drama, LeBron and Bronny James achieved an unprecedented milestone Tuesday night, becoming the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA regular season game as the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The historic pairing materialized late in the second quarter at the Crypto.com Arena, with the Lakers holding a commanding 51-35 lead. Coach J.J. Redick’s decision to bring both James onto the court simultaneously sparked an enormous roar from the home crowd, creating an instant classic moment in NBA lore.
Adding to the evening’s symbolism, baseball legends Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who made their own history as MLB’s first father-son teammates with the Seattle Mariners in 1990-91, watched from courtside. “We made history; now we get to watch history,” said Griffey Jr., who joined his father in photographing the moment with both James before tip-off.
LeBron James, approaching his 40th birthday in December, could barely contain his excitement before the game. “Just to run out the tunnel knowing that he’ll be in uniform, run out the tunnel with him, see him warm up, and be out there with my teammates,” the elder James told reporters during the morning shoot-around. “This is my 22nd time running out on opening night so I don’t know how many times I’ll have an opportunity, how many times I’ve got left to run out. I won’t take it for granted.”
The path to this moment proved particularly poignant given Bronny’s remarkable recovery from a cardiac arrest suffered during a University of Southern California workout just over a year ago. The 20-year-old rookie, selected 55th overall by the Lakers in June’s draft, has overcome both health challenges and skepticism about his NBA readiness.
“To see him play in a college Division I game the same year he had heart surgery… I knew that at that moment that there really was going to be nothing to stop him from anything that he wants to do,” LeBron reflected on his son’s journey.
While Bronny is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G-League, the younger James has embraced the challenge of proving himself beyond his famous surname. “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 stated during Lakers media day.
For LeBron, sharing the professional basketball experience with his son has already proved rewarding. “It’s been a treat and just in preseason, the practices, just every day,” the NBA superstar said. “The plane rides, the bus rides of being with him and showing him the ropes, along with his teammates and coaches. Just what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day… super-duper cool.”
The James family’s achievement marks not just a statistical milestone but a powerful moment in sports history, bridging generations and fulfilling a father’s long-held dream of sharing the professional stage with his son.
