LeBron James and his son Bronny became the first father-son duo to play in a game together in NBA history. They both checked into a game late in the second quarter of a 110-103 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, October 22. Bronny was drafted 55th overall in the 2024 NBA draft.
Although Bronny didn’t score, LeBron scored 16 points. Not long after the game, it was announced that Bronny would be sent down to the G-League, where he would split his playing time between the NBA and G-League, and would also play for the South Bay Lakers.
Before he left for the G-League, Bronny scored his first NBA basket on October 30th against the Cleveland Cavaliers, his father’s former team. It was a step-back jump shot late in the fourth quarter during a 134-110 blowout loss.
The decision for the Lakers to take Bronny in the NBA draft was heavily criticized. Many saw the move to take him as nepotism, and that he wouldn’t have been drafted if he wasn’t LeBron’s son.
"Let me say this, we have to stop. We have to stop as the media and everybody else shining a light on Bronny because there are other players that are deserving of our attention,” ESPN analyst and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins said.
Some people have been defending Bronny from the criticism he has faced, even NBA players.
“Everybody's gonna get criticized. Yeah, he was the 55th pick, but he's also the son of the best—or one of the best—players to ever play the game of basketball. It's unfair, to some degree. You don't allow him to kind of navigate and find himself. This is a kid we're talking about, who's trying to find his way in the NBA and live out his dreams,” Philadelphia 76ers player Paul George said.
Some players, like Lakers center Anthony Davis, have been appreciative of how LeBron and Bronny are playing together.
“It’s still surreal that he’s on the same team as his dad. And I get to be part of it, witnessing every practice, every game, every moment they share, at least for his first year,” Davis said.
Bronny played college basketball for the USC Trojans, unlike his father who went straight to the NBA from high school. In the 2023-2024 college basketball season, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists in 25 games.
Many basketball fans have strong opinions about Bronny playing for the Lakers with his father.
“It’s pretty good a father and son are playing together even though the son sucks,” NHS freshman Blaise Mindenhall said.
Another basketball fan had a slightly different opinion on Bronny’s situation.
“I think it pretty cool, one of the first father-son duos, I think it is the first father-son duo to actually play together, but it's pretty cool for LeBron to watch his kid score his first NBA points while on the same team as him,” NHS freshman Kyle Duncan said.
Although Bronny has faced a lot of criticism for a player who just entered the NBA, he has shown some signs of talent when he plays. His development in the G-League could help him become an even better basketball player.
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