LeBron James seemingly won’t take it easy on his son as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for the 2024-25 season.

Lakers star Anthony Davis shared a story of some intensity between James and his son, Bronny, during a recent practice.

“It’s fantastic to be able to be here and witness it in practice,” Davis said, per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “Bronny hit a 3 over him today. Everybody was talking smack in Bronny’s favor. Then Bron came down and just bullied somebody. Just took it out on [the defender] — I forgot who it was — and got a layup. Bronny came down and hit another 3, I think over Austin [Reaves]. And Bron wanted the ball.

“So you could see, even though they weren’t matched up, the competition is there. And that’s what we love to see.”

The 39-year-old James is entering his 22nd year in the NBA. He’s already defied the laws of aging, playing at a level nobody has managed to at his age. His newest challenge is outdueling his son, who is 20 years younger, in practice in the weeks leading up to the season.

Bronny spent one season at USC and was the No. 55 overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft by the Lakers. While there isn’t as much hype surrounding him compared to the attention his father received more than 20 years ago, he has the chance to turn heads during his rookie year.

He established himself as a valuable defender in college and then at the NBA draft combine and Summer League, and new head coach JJ Redick is already noticing his knack for making hustle plays.

“I went over to Bronny before practice and I was like, ‘Dude, you ran six miles,'” Redick said, per McMenamin.

The father-son competition could be perfect for James and Bronny as the two navigate the very different stages of their careers. James is looking to prove he can still hang with younger players while Bronny wants to establish himself as more than just the son of a legendary player.

In just a few weeks, James and Bronny will no longer be competing against one another in practice but rather playing together in games. The Lakers begin their season on Oct. 22 in a game that could be historic. Should James and Bronny both suit up in the matchup with the Minnesota Timberwolves, it will mark the first time a father and son have played for the same team at the same time.