Ken Griffey Jr. knows what it is like to share a professional stage with a famous father, and he recently passed that experience on to Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James.
Before the Lakers’ Oct. 22, 2024 opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena, Griffey Jr. and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., met courtside with LeBron James and his son. The Griffeys previously became the first father-son duo to play together in Major League Baseball, suiting up for the Seattle Mariners.
During an appearance on the “Nightcap” podcast hosted by Shannon Sharpe and Chad Johnson, Griffey Jr. relayed the advice he gave Bronny that night.
“I told Bronny to relax, enjoy it, and be himself,” the Hall of Famer said. “You’re not going to be him—nobody is him.”
Griffey Jr. added that when he joined the Mariners, his own father kept clear lines between family and work. “At home he was Dad; at the ballpark he was a teammate,” he recalled, noting there were occasions he opted to ride home with his mother to avoid post-game scrutiny.
The former MLB star believes Bronny can benefit simply by observing his father from the Lakers bench. “People say he needs to be in the G League,” Griffey Jr. said. “I learned more sitting there watching my dad than anything.”
Developing on and off the court
Bronny, selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, split his rookie year between the Lakers and their G League affiliate, gaining in-game reps while also practicing alongside his four-time MVP father. He carried that growth into Summer League, where he emphasized improving as a primary ball-handler.
“If I’m consistently confident bringing the ball up and knowing my role, I’ll be good,” Bronny said after the Las Vegas showcase, adding that comfort off the ball will follow. “Getting those reps with the ball in my hands is really good for my development.”
The 19-year-old will continue that progression when the Lakers open training camp this fall, still drawing on Griffey’s simple guidance to “be yourself” while making NBA history alongside his father.
Source: Lakers Nation
