Mark Medina
LOS ANGELES — For their first act, LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-and-son duo to play together on the same NBA team.
For their second act, LeBron and Bronny James recorded the first father-son assist.
“Definitely a cool moment for us and most importantly our family,” LeBron James said.
Well before the Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets became official on Friday, LeBron passed to Bronny for an open 3 with 7:52 left in the second quarter. The sequence played out this way. While Bronny ran the offense, LeBron set a screen and received an entry pass near the top of the key. Shortly after drawing a double team, LeBron passed the ball out to an open Bronny behind the arc. Bronny made a short pump fake before pulling up and nailing the trey.
LeBron and Bronny first shared the court together during the Lakers’ season opener against Minnesota in the 2024-25 season. But both LeBron and Bronny viewed their latest moment as just as significant following a cardiac arrest scare before his junior season at USC (summer 2023) and spending most of his rookie and sophomore season in the G League. Bronny had only three points on 1-for-2 shooting in four minutes off the bench, but he played with his father the entire time. That happened two days after Bronny scored four points on 2-for-4 shooting in 13 minutes off the bench in Wednesday’s win in Indiana.
“Just getting back to where it was before the incident. He’s always been able to shoot the ball,” LeBron said of Bronny. “He shot the ball at a high level pretty much throughout his years of playing ball. But just getting confidence in getting his strength back and his wind and everything. Everything is just coming back before the incident. I’m not surprised to see him shoot the ball at a high clip.”
Neither are the Lakers or Bronny, whom has received strong praise for his strong work ethic, amenable personality and coachability. Bronny, whom the Lakers drafted in 2024 at No. 55, said he has “gotten more and more comfortable to shoot it without thinking.”
“I’ve been wanting to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny said. “I knew this would be my job at one point. It’s a dream come true. I’m so privileged to be able to play basketball for a job. I love every single second of it. My teammates embrace me. I’m best friends with all my teammates and coaches. I’m happy to he here.”
Bronny was also happy to make history with LeBron about 12 years after playing one-on-one at their former home in Miami. Then, Bronny said that LeBron broke a backboard.
“Special moment with us two,” Bronny said. “A lot of work getting done.”
