LeBron James’ reaction to seeing his son Bronny score his first NBA points said it all when it comes to the basketball legend.
Late in the Los Angeles Lakers 134-110 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers, head coach JJ Redick elected to pull his starters and have his bench carry the team the rest of the game. With just over two minutes remaining in the game, Bronny attempted to drive baseline to the basket though he was cut off by Tristan Thompson, the elder James’ former teammate.
With nowhere to go, Bronny pulled back out before rising up for the midrange jumper over the outstretched arm of a Cavaliers defender. The shot was pure, gliding through the air and softly in the basket as the crowd exploded with joy in seeing their once-franchise star’s son score his first NBA points.
As the Lakers ran back on defense, cameras spotted the 39-year-old looking on, holding back his emotions as his mouth quivered seeing his oldest son score in the same game as him. Bronny finished the game with two points and two assists in five minutes of action.
Meanwhile, LeBron finished the game with 26 points, six rebounds and three assists as the Lakers dropped their second game in a row after winning their first three games of the season. After the game, LeBron and Bronny spoke with reporters, with the elder James explaining what it meant to him to see his son score his first points in the arena he called home for years.
“He’s better than what I would’ve been in that situation,” LeBron said, a smile beaming from his face. “20,000 fans screaming my name to get into the game and wanting me to be in the game. If the roles were reversed, I don’t know if I would’ve been able to handle it.
“So, just commend him on his composure, the way he approaches, not only the game but approaches life in general. To see him get his first NBA basket, in this arena where he grew up not too far away from here, it’s an unbelievable moment. Unbelievable moment for him, first of all. For our family, just pretty cool to be a part of it.”
When asked if Bronny felt any pressure to try and live up to his father’s name and what he’s done, the younger James admitted that he had been facing pressure since he was a young boy. “Pretty much been the same thing for 20 years and a month now,” Bronny began. “Some of the just comes with it I guess, but it is what it is.”
For the father-son duo to score baskets on the same night is yet another special moment in what is amounting to be a special season for the James’s. After Los Angeles’ 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Lakers’ season opener, LeBron explained that every moment with his on the court will have to be earned.
That said, LeBron was extremely proud of the fact that he was able to play at the same time as his son. The two were on the court for about three minutes, being the first father-son duo to play in the same game in NBA history.
“Its family. Its always been family over everything,” he told TNT Sports after the win. “For me, I lost a lot of time because of this league, committing to this league, being on the road at times, missing a lot of his things, Bryces things, Zhuris things.
“So to be able to have this moment, where Im working still, and I can work alongside my son, its one of the greatest gifts Ive ever gotten from the man above and Im gonna take full advantage of it.
“Theres only 450 of us. Understand its not given to you. You got to earn every moment. He knows that and hes looking forward to the process of getting better and better every single day to be the player he ultimately wants to be. ‘Im super proud of him. Hes my lifeline, thats for sure.
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