Imagine being 20 years old and having to make your debut in the most spectacular and important basketball championship in the world. Now, add that you are the son of an American and world basketball legend and you are about to make your debut with dad in the Los Angeles Lakers. It seems like a Hollywood story, staying on the Los Angeles theme, but it really happened last night to Bronny James.
BRONNY’S DEBUT
“Are you ready? Go without fear.” With these simple but significant words, LeBron James encouraged his son Bronny moments before his expected debut in an official NBA game. For the first time in the history of the US professional basketball league, a father and son played together on the same team, the Los Angeles Lakers. Although they had already shared the court in a friendly match a few weeks earlier, their official NBA debut represents a unique and unforgettable moment. LeBron, already a living basketball legend with four NBA titles to his name, is facing his 22nd season at almost 40 years old, a record he shares with Vince Carter. Bronny, on the other hand, is only at the beginning of his career, aged just 20. The historic game against the Minnesota Timberwolves saw Bronny make his entrance on the court in the second quarter, in the fourth minute, when the Lakers were leading by 16 points. Ultimately, the game ended in a victory for Los Angeles, 110-103.
THE WORDS OF LEBRON JAMES
LeBron described that moment as unforgettable: “I will never forget it, even if I get very old and my memory starts to fade. This moment will remain forever.” Bronny, who played just 2 minutes and 41 seconds, tried to keep his emotion in check, saying he strongly felt the crowd’s energy. “I tried not to make any mistakes and just enjoy the moment,” he explained. In addition to the emotion of the debut, the day was also special for LeBron for another reason: his daughter Zhuri Nova’s tenth birthday. After the game, LeBron highlighted the historic importance of the event, declaring that it was a truly special day.
THE OTHER FATHER-SON COUPLE…OF BASEBALL
Before the game, the two Jameses posed for a photo with Craig and Ken Griffey Jr., the other famous father-son duo who made Major League Baseball history. In 1990, the Griffeys played together for the Seattle Mariners, and LeBron has often said he wanted to emulate that historic moment. The Griffeys, aware of the significance of the moment, flew to attend the game and celebrate another chapter in sports history with LeBron and Bronny.
