Published: 12:14, October 23, 2024
LeBron James and son Bronny share court in NBA first
By Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers' US small forward #23 LeBron James (center) watches as son Los Angeles Lakers' US guard #09 Bronny James jumps to block a shot during the NBA game season opener between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto Arena in Los Angeles on Oct 22, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)

LOS ANGELES - LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo to play together in a regular season NBA game on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves in their season opener.

The sold-out crowd let out a roar when 20-year-old Bronny checked into the game with four minutes to play in the first half to join LeBron with the Lakers leading 51-35.

No father-son duo has ever played during the same NBA season, let alone on the same team. The pair appeared together during a preseason game earlier this month.

Lebron, 39, had long said one of his remaining goals in basketball was to play with his son, a guard who was selected with the 55th pick of the NBA Draft in June after one season at the University of Southern California.

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) handles the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, on Oct 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (PHOTO / AP)

Lebron, the NBA's all-time leading scorer, a four-time champion and three-time Olympic gold medalist, has entered his 22nd NBA season and has yet to say when he plans to call time on his career.

Bronny, meanwhile, is looking to make a name for himself in the league he has grown up around with a father who has also played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat.

READ MORE: 'Pure joy' for LeBron James as Bronny joins him on Lakers

In attendance at the game was another sporting father-son duo in Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who played together on Major League Baseball's Seattle Mariners. The pair memorably hit back-to-back home runs in a game in September 1990.

LeBron and Bronny warmly welcomed the Griffeys at midcourt ahead of the game before posing for photos.