LeBron James and his son Bronny made history this weekend by playing together against the Phoenix Suns. LeBron, widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, has long been an inspiration for his son Bronny, who is following in his footsteps.
To mark his 20th birthday on October 6, Bronny joined his legendary father on the court during the LA Lakers’ preseason game against the Suns. The young basketball talent made his debut as a substitute at the beginning of the second quarter, stepping onto the court alongside LeBron just after a timeout.
The James family has made history as the first father-son duo to play not only simultaneously in the NBA but on the same team. After the game, LeBron took to Twitter to share his excitement, writing: “WOW THAT WAS SURREAL!!”
At 39, LeBron is preparing for his 22nd NBA season, while Bronny is just starting his career. He was drafted by the Lakers in the second round this summer. Despite approaching 40, LeBron shows no signs of slowing down, having recently signed a two-year contract with the Lakers.
Bronny’s recruitment came after a major health scare in July 2023 when, as a teenager, he suffered a cardiac arrest during a workout. It was later revealed that the incident was caused by a congenital heart defect. A spokesperson for the James family shared, “It is an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect, which can and will be treated.
We are very confident in Bronny’s full recovery and his return to basketball in the near future. We will continue to provide updates and respectfully request privacy for the family.”
Despite being the son of a basketball legend, Bronny remains unfazed by the pressure and public scrutiny. LeBron explained that his son “really does not care” about outside opinions. In an interview with ESPN’s Dave McMenamin earlier this year, LeBron said, “I don’t think people truly understand Bronny. He doesn’t care. I actually care a little bit.”
Reflecting on his own early career, LeBron added, “When I was a rookie, I wanted people to like me, and some negative comments got to me… but Bronny doesn’t care at all. He’s incredibly laid-back—completely opposite of his dad.”