LeBron James and son Bronny make NBA history by playing together | Basketball News

The Lakers selected LeBron's 20-year-old son in the NBA draft in June, becoming the first father-son duo on the same team.

LeBron James and his eldest son Bronny James secured a piece of NBA history by making their long-awaited first appearance together for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The duo appeared together at the start of the second quarter in the Lakers' 118-114 preseason loss to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles, on Sunday.

While LeBron impressed with 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds on the court before sitting out the second half, Bronny had a harder time with zero points in just over 13 minutes on the court. The younger James only attempted one shot.

“It was cool for both of us, especially for our family,” said LeBron James, 39, after playing alongside Bronny, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday. “It's definitely a moment I'll never forget.

“As a father, it means everything. For someone who didn't have a father as a child, being able to have that influence on your son, to spend moments with him, to work with him – that's one of the greatest things a father could ever hope for.”

However, James Snr admitted there were moments on the pitch that felt surreal.

“We came out of a timeout and were kind of standing next to each other. I kind of looked at him. It was like being in the Matrix or something. It just didn't feel real. But it was great to have those moments.”

Anticipation as to when the James duo would become the first father-son duo to appear together on the same NBA roster has been building since the Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the NBA draft in June.

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this,” new Lakers coach JJ Redick said after James’ double.

“As a basketball fan, it’s cool. I think it speaks to LeBron's longevity and his competitiveness. And it speaks to the work Bronny has done to get to this point.”

Redick brought Bronny James onto the court with the Lakers leading 34-25 in the second quarter.

LeBron James said playing on the same team with Bronny has given him a new lease on life as he enters the 22nd season of an illustrious career.

“It's a great excitement, a pure joy to be able to come to work every day, work hard with your son every day and see him continue to grow,” James said.

“We push each other. He urges me. I urge him. We push our teammates and vice versa. So it's a very joyful moment, not only for myself but also for our family.

“So it’s pretty great. Gives you a lot of life.”

Bronny said at the Lakers' recent media day that he was motivated by the words of critics who said he owed his place on the Lakers' roster entirely to his superstar father.

“I just take all the stuff, the criticism and the backlash that people have given me and turn it into something that can drive me,” he said.

Bronny is expected to spend the majority of his rookie season in the developing G League rather than the Lakers' senior team.

The Lakers open their 2024-25 regular season with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22nd.