LeBron and Bronny James Make NBA Debut Together, Kickstarting the Season
The NBA season opened with a bang as LeBron and Bronny James took to the court together for the first time on Tuesday in Los Angeles with the Lakers, following an impressive performance from reigning champions Boston.
Known for breaking records, LeBron James, starting his 22nd NBA season at 39 years old (sharing a record with Vince Carter), once again etched his name in history by playing alongside his son, Bronny (20 years old), who is embarking on his own basketball career.
The Lakers secured a 110-103 victory, fueled by Anthony Davis’ stellar performance (36 points, 16 rebounds) against the Minnesota Timberwolves led by Anthony Edwards (27 points) and French center Rudy Gobert (13 points, 14 rebounds), who recently signed a contract extension with ESPN reporting a three-year deal starting from 2025.
During the second quarter, Bronny made his debut on the court followed by his father with four minutes remaining in the period. Before taking the court, LeBron encouraged his son, saying, “Are you ready? Do you see the intensity? Play without holding back,” as captured by television mics.
The heartwarming moment came over a year after Bronny James suffered a cardiac arrest during a training session with his college team in July 2023. Moved by the incident, LeBron had contemplated his future in the sport but ultimately decided to continue, driven by the desire to share the final moments of his career with his son, who has resumed his progression after the setback.
“I’ve been so busy with this league, spent a lot of time traveling, missed important moments. So being able to experience this time where I can work with my son, it’s one of the most precious gifts I could receive,” commented LeBron James.
Uncertain Future for Bronny
The father-son duo had previously played a few minutes together on October 6 in Palm Springs, California, for a pre-season match against Phoenix.
In the Crypto.com Arena in the business district of Los Angeles, father and son delighted the audience, including the likes of Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who had shared a similar father-son sporting legacy in baseball with the Seattle Mariners in 1990 and 1991. The Griffey’s posed for a photo with the James family at the start of the game.
Several father-son duos have left their mark on American sports history, such as Gordie Howe with his sons Mark and Marty in NHL (hockey) or Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. in MLB (baseball) in the early 2000s.
After his brief debut of 2 minutes and 41 seconds without scoring (1 rebound), Bronny James, drafted 55th overall in June, faces an uncertain role within the Lakers under new coach JJ Redick. Unlike LeBron, who had a highly-anticipated debut season in 2003, the young guard is unlikely to receive significant playing time and may continue his development journey between the NBA and the G League.
Boston Dominates New York
LeBron James, a four-time NBA champion, will continue his remarkable career, fresh off winning a gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer with Team USA.
While the Lakers aim for another title, uncertainties loom as they retained the same roster that was eliminated in the playoffs by Denver (4-1) last spring.
In contrast, the Boston Celtics displayed dominance in the season opener by trouncing the New York Knicks 132-109. Jayson Tatum’s long-range shot (37 points) set the tone for a one-sided game where the “C’s” overwhelmed their opponents with 29 successful three-pointers out of 61 attempts, equalling an NBA record, despite missing the last 13 attempts!
Karl-Anthony Towns, after a surprising move from Minnesota, saw game time with the Knicks, scoring 12 points and grabbing 7 rebounds, alongside French player Pacôme Dadiet who contributed 3 points and 1 rebound in 13 minutes.
The juxtaposition of seasoned veterans like LeBron James and rising stars like Bronny James marks an exciting start to the NBA season, setting the stage for thrilling matchups and inspiring moments on the hardwood.