LeBron James and his son, Bronny James, made NBA history on Sunday night, becoming the first father and son to play together in the league.
This milestone occurred during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 118-114 preseason defeat to the Phoenix Suns at Arcisure Arena, marking a dream come true for LeBron.
The unforgettable moment happened in the second quarter when Bronny, who was celebrating his 20th birthday, stepped onto the court alongside his father.
As soon as Bronny’s name was called, the arena erupted in applause, recognizing the historic significance.
The initial moments were a bit rocky—Bronny committed two turnovers, and LeBron also had one.
Despite the early setbacks, LeBron soon found his rhythm, hitting a 3-pointer and setting a screen for Bronny to attempt his own three, though the shot didn’t fall. After about four minutes on the floor together, Bronny was substituted out, with LeBron following shortly after.
LeBron, now 39 and entering his 22nd season, has spoken for years about his desire to share the court with one of his children. Becoming a father at 19, he held on to this dream, which finally came to life after the Lakers drafted Bronny in 2024 with the 55th overall pick.
Before joining the NBA, Bronny had completed a season at the University of Southern California and bravely recovered from a cardiac arrest he suffered over a year ago.
Though Bronny is expected to spend much of his rookie season with the South Bay Lakers in the G League, Lakers head coach JJ Redick has confirmed that plans are in motion for LeBron and Bronny to appear in a regular-season game together. While no specific dates have been announced, the team is actively working on making it happen.
LeBron, who sat out the Lakers’ first preseason game against the Timberwolves, watched Bronny play 16 minutes in that matchup, where he scored two points and notched three blocks.
Sunday’s game added another chapter to their shared NBA journey, with more milestones likely on the horizon.
