The Los Angeles Lakers appear poised to make history on Tuesday night.
According to a report from ESPN’s Shams Charania, Bronny James is “very likely” to play in the Lakers’ season opener on Tuesday alongside his father, LeBron. This would mark the first time a father-son duo appeared in the same game in NBA history.
Charania further reported that the Lakers want to ensure that Bronny’s debut happens in a “competitive environment.”
Bronny was given every opportunity to make the Lakers’ roster, appearing in all six pre-season games where he averaged 4.2 points, 1.7 rebounds and 0.6 assists while shooting 8.3 per cent from three. He played his best offensive game on Oct. 18 against the Golden State Warriors, posting 17 points in 35 minutes, despite a blowout loss.
He suited up for one pre-season game with his father, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, in early October.
Only a handful of father-son duos have ever played together at the professional level in North America, only doing so in the MLB and NHL and roughly once a generation.
In 1979, NHL legend Gordie Howe and sons Mark and Marty played together for one season with the Hartford Whalers, having suited up previously together in the WHA. At the end of the 2001 season, Tim Raines and his son played for the Baltimore Orioles.
And in attendance at Crypto.com on Tuesday night to (possibly) watch history will be the first father-son duo to play in the MLB, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. — who played together for the Seattle Mariners in the early ’90s.
“First father and son to play baseball, (and) now the first father and son to play basketball,” the younger Griffey told MLB Network Radio on Monday. “It’s a big deal for my dad and I to be there. We made history. Now, we get to watch history, so that’s what’s going to be cool about it.”
Bronny was selected in the second round by the Lakers at the 2024 NBA Draft. Before that, the 20-year-old played one season of college basketball at USC.
