One year after sharing an NBA court with his father, Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James says the historic night still feels surreal.
During an interview with Grant Horvat Golf, the 20-year-old recalled the 2024-25 season opener on Oct. 22, 2024, when he and LeBron James became the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. The matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves took place at Crypto.com Arena.
“It was nuts. It was crazy,” Bronny said. “The nervousness was through the roof. I wasn’t shaking, but it’s different when your dad’s on the team. You’ve got expectations. The Lakers franchise has expectations.”
The Lakers selected Bronny with the No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, viewing him as a long-term project after a turbulent freshman year at USC and a preseason health scare. Critics questioned whether the choice was made to satisfy LeBron, but team officials have repeatedly said they believe Bronny can develop into a valuable contributor.
Throughout his rookie season, the 6-foot-4 guard faced inconsistent playing time and heavy scrutiny, yet remained focused on improving. He is spending the offseason sharpening his on-ball skills in hopes of earning a larger role in his second year.
Off the court, Nike plans to release a Bronny James colorway of the LeBron NXXT sneaker in September, adding another milestone to the family’s growing list of firsts.
Source: Lakers Nation
