LeBron James has been preparing for this day for years.
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On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener.LeBron and Bronny James made history as the first father-son duo to play in the NBA.The Lakers won 110 to 103, with LeBron scoring 16 points.
LeBron and Bronny James made history Tuesday as the first father-son duo to play together in the NBA.
Their team, the Los Angeles Lakers, made its season debut against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Crypto.com Arena and ultimately won 110 to 103.
Though the younger James only played for three minutes in the second quarter, the moment was a powerful reminder of how far he’s come since going into cardiac arrest in July 2023 during a preseason basketball practice for the University of Southern California. He was subsequently diagnosed with a congenital heart defect and underwent surgery before being cleared to return to basketball.
He was drafted by the Lakers 11 months later, in June 2024, on a four-year, $7.9 million contract. His dad is under a two-year, $104 million contract with the team.
“Bronny is, first and foremost, a person of high character,” Lakers GM Rob Pelinka said after drafting the then 19-year-old. “And second, he is a young man that works incredibly hard.”
And after a summer of training and playing together during the pre-season, King James and his son finally stepped foot onto the court together.
“That’s a crazy moment I will never forget,” Bronny James told Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks.
Here’s what it was like to see the Jameses make NBA history.
LeBron James and his son Bronny James made NBA history on October 22 as the first father and son to play together.
Bronny James made his NBA debut on October 22, 2024.
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LeBron James, 39, and his son, 20, have been preparing for this day since he was drafted in June.
LeBron and Bronny James warmed up together before their first regular season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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The elder James started the game and played 13 minutes before taking a rest. The two then entered the game together 8 minutes into the second quarter.
LeBron James and Bronny James sat on the bench together during the game.
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LeBron James has previously said he would stay in the NBA as long as it took for his son to get there too.
LeBron James has been preparing for this day for years.
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“My last year will be played with my son,” LeBron, who is now on a two-year contract, said in 2022. “Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year.”
Bronny James played for one season at the University of Southern California.
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Fans roared when the two Jameses stepped on the court.
The elder James is a forward, while his son is a guard.
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But fans weren’t the only ones in the building. Ken Griffey Sr. and his son Ken Griffey Jr. — the first father and son to play in the MLB together — were also in the Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron and Bronny posed with another history-making father-son duo, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., before the game.
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The younger James didn’t play for long, but he did receive a pass from his dad.
In this photo, Bronny James is passing the ball back to his father.
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He then attempted a three-pointer off that pass, but he missed, to the sadness of some of his teammates.
Bronny James went for a three-pointer, but missed.
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“We wanted that three to go in,” said Anthony Davis, “Bron threw it to him, and we wanted, obviously, for that to go in.
Anthony Davis has been playing with LeBron James since 2019. The two also won a gold medal this year at the 2024 Olympics.
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The Lakers went on to win 110 to 103. LeBron James had 16 points, five rebounds, and four assists.
LeBron James takes to the sky for two points at Crypto.com Arena.
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“No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget [this],” the four-time NBA champion said in a postgame press conference.
LeBron and Bronny James spoke to reporters together.
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His son added, “I totally did feel the energy, and I appreciate the Laker Nation for showing the support for me and my dad.”
It was the first of a long season together.
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