Tuesday, October 22, 2024, might mark the first time in NBA history that a father and a son share the basketball court in an official contest.
Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James appears poised to make his NBA debut alongside his 39-year-old father LeBron James in his team’s opening night matchup against the Minnesota Timberwolves at 10:30 pm EST.
Ahead of the contest, the elder James was all fun and games. LeBron James posted a video to his X account of himself pouring fruity pebbles into his son’s car.
An unknowing Bronny later opens the door to a sea of cereal pouring out from the driver’s seat. “Yo! Come on,” he shouts.
The camera quickly pans to LeBron, clearly watching on. “Hey Rook, you better not be late,” he gloats. Bronny looks at him dumbfounded: “Yo, are you serious? Come on man?”
LeBron responds, “Hey, clean up my driveway, it’s a mess” — the pair still live in the same household alongside Savannah James (Bronny’s mother), Bryce (17), and Zhuri (9).
“Yo, you’re too old for this. What’s going on bruh, come on?” Bronny shouts as LeBron drives away. The 39-year-old LeBron James is entering year 22 in the NBA.
Don’t be late ROOK! 🤣🤴🏾👑🫡 pic.twitter.com/zxR6O8ewJp
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 22, 2024
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported earlier in October that he expects Bronny and LeBron to share the court on Tuesday for the Lakers. However, the elder James remained coy on the timing of the partnership.
“Whenever it happens, it will happen,” he told the media on Tuesday morning. “If it’s tonight or if it’s down the line, whenever it happens, it will happen.”
“But it’s been a treat, and just in preseason, the practices, just every day …just bringing him up to speed of what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day as a professional.”
Lakers rookie coach JJ Reddick was effusive in his praise of Bronny during the preseason. “He can do some things defensively at his size that are really unique,” he said.
“I think turn into a really disruptive defender. And that manifested itself. On the offensive end, he’s still kind of figuring out who he is. And that’s our job as a player development program just to build him up.”
The Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the 2024 NBA playoffs by the Denver Nuggets. The elder James will be looking to secure his fifth championship this year.