LeBron and Bronny James on the same level, the first father-son duo in the history of the NBA-Libération

2024-10-23 08:37:00

The basketball superstar, 39, was able to share a few minutes of gameplay with his son, 20, during the Los Angeles Lakers’ first game of the season on Tuesday night into Wednesday. A first in the NBA.

“I’ll never forget it.” “King” LeBron James experienced a unique new moment in his long and prestigious career this Tuesday, October 22, when he shared a few minutes with his offspring Bronny at the NBA season opener with the Los Angeles Lakers. The first father-son duo in the history of the American Basketball League. During the second quarter of the Lakers’ win over Rudy Gobert’s Minnesota Timberwolves (110-103), Bronny entered the floor for his first follow-through from his father, with four minutes to play in the period. “Are you ready? Do you see the intensity? Play without restrictionsthe father told his son before entering the fray, according to the microphones.

“That moment, when we entered the field, I will never forget, even if I become very old, even if my memory fades little by little with age. Whatever happens, this moment will remain unforgettable. “said the player with four NBA titles who is starting his 22nd season at 39 (a record shared with Vince Carter) while his son took his first steps in the league at 20. “Obviously, this is the first time in the magnificent history of the NBA that a father and son have been on the same floor, let alone on the same team. It was really nice”added the Olympic champion in Paris 2024, in front of the press, after the victory.

The two players had already played a few minutes together on October 6th in Palm Springs (California), but during a pre-season match against Phoenix. For this official premiere in the Crypto.com arena in the Los Angeles business district, father and son James delighted spectators, including Ken Griffey Sr. and his son Ken Griffey Jr., who had experienced the same fate on a golf course baseball in 1990 and 1991 with the Seattle Mariners. The Griffeys posed for a photo with James at the start of the meeting. Some two pather-sons have already marked the history of American sports, Gordie Howe with his sons Mark and Marty in the NHL (hockey), or even Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. in MLB (baseball) in the early 2000s

Health problem

Rookie (rookie) drafted 55th overall in the draft by his father’s franchise, Bronny James played just 2 minutes, 41 seconds with one offensive rebound and two missed shots. Far from performing as expected as the patriarch did for his first season in 2003, the young back isn’t expected to get many minutes on the court and will be called upon to continue his progress between the NBA and the G League, his developmental league.

But he too will not forget this moment nor the“energy” received by the public. “I try not to focus too much on everything that’s happening around me. I tried not to make a complete mistake. But I definitely felt the energy”commented the young back. An even more heartwarming moment since Bronny survived cardiac arrest during practice with his college team in July 2023 due to a congenital disease. LeBron James then considered stopping his career before deciding to continue with the hope of sharing the floor with his son.

“I’ve been busy with this championship, I’ve spent a lot of time travelling, I’ve missed important moments. So being able to experience this time where I can work with my son is one of the greatest gifts I can receive. “cheered LeBron James. Before ending his day with this historic match, the nearly forty-year-old also celebrated his daughter Zhuri Nova’s 10th birthday. “Everything has been great today, everything since I got up this morning.”I tasted the “king”.