NBA fans were largely divided after watching LeBron James make history by playing alongside his oldest son, Bronny, becoming the first father-son teammates in NBA history.
Unlike the elder James in 2003, Bronny is not considered a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and many have accused the second-round pick of benefiting from nepotism.
“Bronny may be the biggest nepo baby in Los Angeles history, which is saying a lot,” wrote one reviewer on Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. .
However, many other fans appreciated the historic moment, as Bronny went three minutes without scoring a point.
“If you weren’t excited to see Bronny check in at the Lakers game with his dad, Lebron, you need to check your pulse,” former NFL player Emmanuel Acho wrote on X.
NBA fans were largely divided after watching LeBron James make history by playing alongside his eldest son, Bronny, becoming the first father-son duo in NBA history.
LeBron James stares into the crowd with his son Bronny during Tuesday’s opener.
“I legitimately don’t care what you think here, seeing LeBron and Bronny walk into the game together is one of the coolest things ever,” podcaster Josh Reynolds added. ‘History.’
History was made with four minutes left in the first half, as both players entered the game with Los Angeles holding a commanding 51-35 lead.
Just seconds after taking the court, LeBron missed a three-point attempt. At the other end, Minnesota forward Julius Randle scored on Bronny on the ensuing possession.
Bronny ended up playing three minutes in the first half, missing both of his field goal attempts and grabbing an offensive rebound. Most memorably, he was blocked by former Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.
Many fans were quick to point out his struggles.
“Bronny checks in,” one wrote on X. “Randle takes care of him, Gobert fills him in…time out in LA.”
“This is not a movie, friend,” added the critic. “These are the Timberwolves.”
Many fans were supportive of Bronny James getting the opportunity to play with his father.
Later, TNT Sports interviewed both Bronny and LeBron.
“I’m very grateful for everything,” Bronny said of his debut. “They gave me an incredible opportunity to come to this league and get better every day and learn every day.”
But no one was happier than LeBron, who finally got to work with his son after spending so many years away from him on the road.
“It’s family,” LeBron told TNT. ‘It has always been family above all else. For me, I lost a lot of time because of this league, committing to this league, being on tour sometimes, missing a lot of their stuff, Bryce’s stuff, Zhuri’s stuff.
“So to be able to have this moment, where I’m still working and I can work alongside my son, is one of the best gifts I’ve ever received from the man above and I’m going to make the most of it.” .’
When asked what he wanted Bronny to remember, LeBron emphasized the privilege of playing in the NBA.
“This is not promised every day when you have the opportunity to play in this beautiful league,” he said alongside his son. ‘There are only 450 of us. Understand that it has not been given to you. You have to earn every moment. He knows this and looks forward to the process of improving every day to become the player he ultimately wants to be.
‘I’m very proud of him. He’s my lifesaver, that’s for sure.’
Bronny James is facing some critics, who believe he came to the NBA at the behest of LeBron.
Bronny’s first three minutes of his professional career were forgettable to say the least.
Among those who witnessed history were Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., the first father and son to play together on the same Major League Baseball team.
Earlier Tuesday, LeBron insisted he wasn’t focused on the possibility of history being made during the Lakers’ season opener.
“When it happens, it happens,” LeBron said after a morning shootaround. ‘Whether it’s tonight or later, when it happens, it will happen. But it’s been a pleasure, and just in the preseason, practices, every day… just getting him up to speed on what this professional life is about and how to prepare every day as a professional.’
LeBron was simply waiting for his son to take the NBA court, as it’s been a little over a year since Bronny went into cardiac arrest during a preseason workout before his freshman year in Southern California.
“(It wasn’t) long ago that the scare happened,” LeBron said. “And when he gets to step on an NBA court, whether it’s tonight or whenever that may be, it will be another one of those moments just to know the adversity that he went through.”
‘I’ve had a couple of family members who have had heart surgeries. Some of them older, others younger. And knowing how long it takes to get back to yourself, seeing him be able to play in a Division I college game the same year he had heart surgery was, like, an ‘awesome’ moment.