PALM DESERT, Calif. — LeBron James and his son Bronny made NBA historical past Sunday night time once they performed together for the primary time through the Los Angeles Lakers ‘ preseason game towards Phoenix.
LeBron and Bronny are the primary father and son to play in any NBA game on the identical time, not to mention on the identical workforce. The James household's outstanding second coincidentally occurred on Bronny’s twentieth birthday.
Bronny James entered the game as an alternative to start the second quarter, becoming a member of his father on the courtroom out of the timeout at Acrisure Arena in the Coachella Valley.
Things weren't instantly easy for the James household: Bronny dedicated two turnovers and LeBron made one other in their first two minutes together. Shortly after LeBron hit a 3-pointer moments later, LeBron bought the ball to Bronny and set a display screen for his son's 3-point try, however Bronny missed.
Bronny got here off for a substitute 4:09 into the second quarter, and LeBron got here off 25 seconds later on the subsequent useless ball. LeBron had 19 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 16 minutes through the first half, and he watched the Lakers' second half from the bench alongside Anthony Davis.
LeBron James is starting his record-tying twenty second season in the NBA, whereas LeBron James Jr. — identified to all as Bronny — was the Lakers’ second-round draft decide this summer season. After recovering from cardiac arrest over a year ago, Bronny performed only one season at Southern California earlier than coming into the draft and becoming a member of the Lakers.
Lakers coach JJ Redick stated earlier than the game that LeBron and Bronny would solely play together “in the flow of the game,” promising it wouldn't be “gimmicky.”
“I’m excited about it,” Redick added. “I’m very honored that I get to be a part of historical past.”
Bronny performed about 9 minutes in the second half, however did not take one other shot in the Lakers' 118-114 loss to the Suns.
The 6-foot-2 Bronny is anticipated to spend a lot of the upcoming season engaged on his game with the South Bay Lakers of the G League, however he'll nearly actually get to play alongside his 6-foot-9 father in an actual game early in the common season.
Redick stated the Lakers have already got mentioned the logistics of the subsequent historic second, however he hasn’t predicted when it should occur.
Although LeBron will flip 40 in late December, the highest scorer in NBA historical past has proven no signal of slowing down with age. He has spoken for years about his longtime dream of enjoying in the NBA with considered one of his sons, and the Lakers made it a actuality once they grabbed Bronny with the fifty fifth decide in the draft.
LeBron sat out of the Lakers’ preseason opener towards Minnesota final Friday night time, resting up after a full week of coaching camp following a busy summer season. Bronny had two points on 1-for-6 taking pictures and three blocked pictures whereas enjoying 16 minutes towards the Timberwolves.
The Lakers have 4 extra preseason video games — all exterior Los Angeles whereas their house area is being renovated — earlier than they start the common season at house towards Minnesota on Oct. 22.
LeBron was early in his second NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he and his highschool sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, turned mother and father for the primary time in 2004. They had two extra youngsters — son Bryce and daughter Zhuri.
LeBron and Bronny have been getting ready for the prospect to play together ever since LeBron returned from a summer season trip after profitable a gold medal with the U.S. workforce on the Paris Olympics.
The father and son have scrimmaged together repeatedly throughout exercises on the Lakers’ coaching complicated, each as teammates and opponents. Redick stated they’ve even run pick-and-rolls together in preparation.
In the common season, they’ll be a part of a brief checklist of fathers and sons who've shared a enjoying subject in North American skilled sports activities. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. performed together with the Seattle Mariners throughout elements of the 1990 and 1991 MLB seasons, whereas hockey nice Gordie Howe performed together with his sons Marty and Mark for the WHA’s Houston Aeros and the NHL’s Hartford Whalers.
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