LeBron James played for the first time with his son Bronny on Sunday during the Los Angeles Lakers’ NBA pre-season match against the Phoenix Suns (118-114).
It was only a pre-season game but it has already made NBA history. LeBron James, world basketball legend, played alongside his son Bronny, drafted in 55th position, in the Los Angeles Lakers jersey on Sunday during the defeat against the Phoenix Suns (118-114) in pre-season. The father and son, who celebrated his 20th birthday for the occasion on Sunday, appeared together on the field during the second quarter of the match. The first pass between the two caused great fervor from the public.
A few NBA games for Bronny before the Development League?
Bronny had already played in pre-season Thursday against the Minnesota Timberwolves (2 points, 1/6 on shots in 16 minutes) while his father LeBron only started on Sunday by scoring 19 points (8/12 on shots) in this preparation for his 22nd NBA season at age 39. Bronny (zero points in 13 minutes on Sunday), will introduce him to the league even if he should spend part of the season in the G League, the NBA development championship.
LeBron and Bronny form the first father-son duo on the same floor in the North American professional league. Sunday evening, LeBron, four-time NBA champion and three-time Olympic champion, shared his great pride. “Wow, it was surreal,” he wrote on his X account. Bronny could share the spotlight with his father during the first NBA regular season games, which open on October 22, i.e. six days before the team’s G-League training camp (which begins November 9). According to observers, Bronny could afford playing time thanks in particular to his strong defensive presence.
“He’s able to do some defensive things at his size that are really unique, and I think he can become a really disruptive defender,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick said after Thursday’s game against Minnesota. On offense, he’s still figuring out who he is. It’s our job as a player development program to build him.”
