For the first time in NBA history, a father and son are not only playing in the same league but are also teammates on the same team. On Monday, LeBron James and his son Bronny James made their public debut as Los Angeles Lakers teammates during the team’s media day.
The duo shared the spotlight at Spectrum SportsNet, both proudly donning their Lakers jerseys—LeBron with his iconic No. 23 and Bronny with No. 9, featuring “James Jr.” on the back. It marked the realization of a long-held dream for LeBron, who has been vocal about his desire to share the court with his son ever since Bronny gained prominence as a high school basketball prospect.
“It’s just pure joy, man,” LeBron said during the event.
As father and son prepare for their first season together, LeBron has laid down one ground rule for their time on the court: Bronny is not to call him “Dad” while playing. “I haven’t gotten there yet,” Bronny said with a laugh, admitting that he’s still figuring out how to address his father on the court. “It’s probably gonna be, like, Bron. Bron would be the easiest.”
The two shared light-hearted banter throughout the media event, even joking about a recent pickup game. While LeBron teased his son, it was clear that both were savoring the moment.
From Dream to Reality: When Will They Take the Court Together?
While the media day was an exciting first for the James duo, fans are eagerly awaiting the moment they’ll step onto the court together in a real game. The Lakers, under the leadership of rookie head coach JJ Redick, face high expectations this season after a disappointing first-round playoff exit last year. Redick, however, has yet to commit to when LeBron and Bronny will officially share the court in a competitive setting.
“We don’t have anything planned, per se, in terms of a commitment to do it this way,” Redick said during a recent press conference. “Obviously, we’ve talked about it as a staff, but we haven’t committed to anything. And obviously, there’s a discussion to be had once we’re all together with Bronny and LeBron, too.”
While the logistics of when they’ll make their on-court debut are still being worked out, Redick assured fans that he doesn’t see the father-son dynamic as a particular challenge for his coaching strategy. “I don’t look at it as a challenge that’s unique from any other challenge of coaching a player or coaching a relationship,” Redick stated.
Upcoming Games and Anticipation for Bronny’s Debut
The Lakers’ preseason kicks off on October 4 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, with their regular season opener set for October 22, also against the Timberwolves. Fans are already speculating whether Bronny will make his official NBA debut alongside his father in one of these early games, marking a historic moment for the league.
As they begin this new chapter together, LeBron and Bronny James are not only realizing a personal dream but also making history in a way that will resonate with basketball fans for generations to come.
