On Sunday, LeBron James and Bronny James shared the court for the first time in their NBA careers as the Los Angeles Lakers battled the Phoenix Suns. It was only a preseason matchup, but as the first father-son duo to ever play alongside each other, it was still a momentous occasion. To make it better, it was Bronny's birthday; the rookie turned 20 years old.
Following the game, the elder James was asked what that moment was like.
"For a father, I mean, it means everything," James told reporters Sunday night. "For someone who didn’t have that growing up, to be able to have that influence for the kids, to have that influence on your son, have moments with your son and ultimately to be able to work with your son, it’s one of the greatest things you could ever hope for or wish for."
James, now entering his 22nd NBA season, has openly expressed his desire to play alongside at least one of his sons for years. In that same stretch, his firstborn rose up through the high school ranks, eventually becoming a four-star recruit. Upon graduating, Bronny chose between Ohio State, Oregon, and USC, eventually opting to stay in Southern California with his family. There are multiple reasons his desire to stay close to home would've benefited him but, as it turns out, the most important reason was completely unexpected.
Prior to the start of the Trojans' 2023-24 campaign, Bronny experienced a career-and-life-threatening cardiac arrest. It was a tense time for the James family. Eventually, he was cleared to play, but his performances were largely underwhelming.
Fortunately for him, his father's stature helped him garner significant attention through the pre-draft process, much of which was focused on whether the Lakers would take him with the 17th or 55th pick. Teams like the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors were reportedly interested in him as well.
Eventually, the younger James did get drafted (55th overall) by Los Angeles. Once the regular season starts, he's likely to spend ample time in the G League because he needs to find an identity and consistency on offense. However, Bronny has already helped the Lakers. Not only has he lifted the mood because his dad is so excited about being on the same team as him but he also made his dad's decision to re-sign with LA easier.
Only time will tell how this works out for father, son, or the franchise. Nonetheless, for an individual with James's upbringing, it adds to his splendor.
The humanity of athletes is often ignored with fans focusing on whether they'll lead their team to a championship or if they can help them win a parlay. Yet, James is a literal 'rags to riches' story. He's even transforming himself into what he may have wanted his own father to be. As he says, "it means everything" to him.
