Before coming off the bench to play for the Lakers, LeBron James mentored his kid, who is twenty years old. As the fans went wild with joy, they walked in unison to the scorer’s table, cementing their place in basketball history.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ season opener on Tuesday night included LeBron James and Bronny James, the first father-and-son duo to ever play in an NBA game. Bronny had been patiently waiting for LeBron to accomplish this goal he had set out for himself a few years back.
My memories of LeBron and myself checking in together at the scorer’s table will last a lifetime. “That moment will remain etched in my memory forever, regardless of the passage of time or the deterioration of my memory.”
When a father and son checked into the Minnesota Vikings game simultaneously with four minutes left in the second quarter, the home crowd, aware of the monumentality of the situation, gave a tremendous applause. Approximately 2.5 minutes into the game, LeBron James—now 39 years old—joined his son—now 20 years old—to continue the winning streak.
Last summer, the Lakers drafted LeBron James Jr. in the second round. James’s father, the great LeBron James, was a twenty-time All-Star and winner of four NBA championships. Never before has it been possible for a father and son to compete in the top basketball league on the same team.
“Are you all set?” Is the intensity something you can feel? As they sat on the bench before checking in, a parent told their son to “just play carefree, though” in an exchange captured by TNT’s cameras and microphones. “Errors do not matter. Going out is all that’s required of you.
They enjoyed a lightning-fast and furious time playing together, just as LeBron had expected.
To end his 16-point outburst, LeBron made a slam after missing two shots from beyond the arc. Despite grabbing an offensive rebound early on, Bronny was unable to convert the tip-in. His first attempt at a 3-pointer in the NBA came shortly after, and he narrowly missed. He checked out after one possession with 1:19 left in the second quarter, which prompted another round of applause.
With Bronny sitting out the final stretch, the Lakers cruised to a 110-103 victory over the Timberwolves.
In an effort to “focus on going in as a rookie and not trying to mess up,” Bronny, a rookie, attempted to tune out his surroundings. “It was great to feel the energy, and I’m grateful to Laker Nation for standing by my dad and me.”
Along with each other, the father and son walked to the locker room as the final buzzer rang, ending the Lakers’ first opening-night victory in LeBron’s seven seasons with the team. But they stopped to embrace Savannah James, Bronny and LeBron’s wife’s father. In addition to celebrating Zhuri’s tenth birthday, the entire family gathered to see the momentous occasion.
15 angels 