As the Los Angeles Lakers took to the court for their season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a historic moment was just seconds away from being written. And when it was, the Staples Center erupts in a frenzy of cheers and applause. For the very first time in NBA history, a father-son duo took to the court together, with none other than LeBron James and his 18-year-old son, Bronny, making history on Tuesday night.
The contrast between the gravity of the moment and the matter-of-fact tone of LeBron’s post-game remarks couldn’t have been more striking. “That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, something I will never forget,” LeBron reflected, his voice trembling with emotion. “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.” It was a sentiment echoed by his son, who lauded the supportive crowd, saying, “I tried not to focus on everything that was going on around me and tried to focus on going in as a rookie and not trying to mess up. But yeah, I totally did feel the energy, and I appreciate the Laker Nation for showing the support for me and my dad.”
The two shared the court for a whopping three minutes, with Bronny contributing one rebound to his tally, while going 0-2 from the field. It’s a moment that may be short on minutes, but long on history. As the NBA world watched in awe, the Twitterverse went wild, with the league’s official account declaring, “LeBron and Bronny James officially become the first father-son duo to play together in a regular season NBA game.”
With his rookie season ahead, it’s likely that Bronny’s minutes will be limited, restricted to the end of games when the Lakers are putting the finishing touches on a victory. Yet, this moment will undoubtedly be etched in the minds of both father and son forever, a memory that will transcend even the most storied of careers. As one parent to the next, they’ve written a chapter in NBA history that will never be forgotten.
