LeBron, Bronny James make NBA history in Lakers’ season opener
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Bronny James (9) stand on the court during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer)
LOS ANGELES – LeBron James and his oldest son Bronny became the first active father-son duo in NBA history tonight as the Lakers opened their season against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena.
LeBron and Bronny James entered the game together with about 4 minutes left in the second quarter, to big cheers from the crowd. LeBron started the game and had already played 13 minutes. Bronny had one rebound and did not score in three minutes of second-quarter action.
The Lakers led the Timberwolves, 55-42, at halftime.
Coach JJ Redick said after Monday’s practice at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo that no decision had been made if the two would play together Tuesday while the younger James said he had not been told if he would play.
LeBron and Bronny James played together once during the preseason, the first 4 minutes, 9 seconds of the second quarter in the Oct. 6 preseason game against the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert on Bronny James’ 20th birthday.
The younger James missed his only shot, grabbed one rebound and committed three turnovers as the Lakers were outscored, 10-6. His father made two of three shot, including a 3-point basket, for six points, had two rebounds and one turnover.
Bronny James averaged 4.2 points in six preseason games, and scored 17 points in the preseason finale Friday against the Golden State Warriors.
Bronny James made himself eligible for the June NBA draft after averaging 4.8 points per game in his lone season at USC and was chosen by the Lakers with the 55th overall selection. He played 490 minutes over 25 games with six starts for the Trojans. The 6-foot-2-inch, 210-pound guard missed the first eight games of the season while recovering from a medical procedure to treat a congenital heart defect.
The game marked Redick’s debut as the Lakers’ coach. He was hired in June to replace Darvin Ham, who was fired four days after his second season as coach ended with a loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
The 40-year-old Redick’s only coaching experience is with his son’s youth team.
“The newness part is exciting,” Redick said. “The familiar part is also exciting, because I really missed it over the last three years.”
Redick played 15 seasons in the NBA, retiring in 2021. He spent the past three seasons as an NBA analyst for ESPN and as a podcaster.
Redick is the Lakers’ seventh permanent coach since Phil Jackson’s retirement following the 2010-11 season — Bernie Bickerstaff served a five-game stint as interim coach during the 2012-13 season — and fourth since LeBron James signed with the team in 2018.
The Lakers’ starting lineup of LeBron James, fellow forward Rui Hachimura, center Anthony Davis and guards D’Angelo Russell and Austin Reaves closed last season with an 18-6 record.
The Lakers’ 18-player roster consists of 14 players who played for the team last season, two drafted rookies — Bronny James and guard Dalton Knecht, the 17th overall selection — and two undrafted rookies — guard Quincy Olivari and forward Armel Traore and one player with NBA experience signed during the offseason, center Christian Koloko.
The Lakers also celebrated the legacy of Jerry West, the Hall of Fame player and executive who died June 12 at age 86, at Tuesday’s game. The players will wear a commemorative No. 44 band on the left shoulder of their uniforms throughout the season. (CNS)
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