NBA fans were largely divided after seeing LeBron James make history by playing alongside his eldest, Bronny, thereby becoming the first father-son duo in NBA history.
Unlike the elder James was back in 2003, Bronny is not considered a once-in-a-lifetime talent, and many have accused the second-round pick of benefitting from nepotism.
‘Bronny may be the biggest nepo baby in the history of Los Angeles, which is saying a lot,’ wrote one critic on X as the Lakers faced the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves in the season opener at LA’s Crypto.com Arena.
However, many other fans appreciated the historic moment during the Lakers’ 110-103 win.
‘If you didn’t get emotional watching Bronny check into the Lakers game with his dad, Lebron, you gotta check your pulse man,’ former NFL player Emmanuel Acho wrote on X.
‘Legitimately don’t care what your thoughts are here, seeing LeBron & Bronny check into the game together is one of the coolest things ever,’ added podcaster Josh Reynolds. ‘History.’
History was made with four minutes left in the first half, as both players checked into the game with Los Angeles holding a commanding 51-35 advantage.
Just seconds after taking the floor, LeBron missed a 3-point attempt. On the other end, Minnesota forward Julius Randle scored over Bronny on the ensuing possession.
Bronny ended up playing three minutes in the first half, missing both of his field-goal attempts and hauling in 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,’ wrote one on X. ‘Gets babied by Randle, stuffed by Gobert… timeout LA
‘This ain’t a movie dawg,’ the critic added. ‘This is the Timberwolves.’
Among those who got to witness history were Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., the first father and son to play alongside each other on the same team in Major League Baseball.
Earlier Tuesday, LeBron insisted that he wasn’t focused on history potentially being made during the Lakers’ season opener.
‘Whenever it happens, it will happen,’ LeBron said following a morning shootaround. ‘If it’s tonight or if it’s down the line, whenever it happens, it will happen. But it’s been a treat, and just in preseason, the practices, just every day … just bringing him up to speed of what this professional life is all about and how to prepare every day as a professional.’
LeBron was simply looking forward to his son getting out on an NBA floor, as it has been just over a year since Bronny suffered a cardiac arrest during a preseason workout ahead of his freshman year at Southern California.
‘[It was] not too long ago that the scare happened,’ LeBron said. ‘And when he’s able to grace an NBA floor, if that’s tonight or whenever the case may be, it’ll be another one of those moments just to know the adversity that he went through.
‘I’ve had a couple of family members that have had heart surgeries. Some of them older, some of them younger. And to know how long it kind of takes to get back to yourself, to see him be able to play in a college Division I game the same year that he had heart surgery was, like, a ‘wow’ moment.’
