One of the most anticipated moments for Los Angeles Lakers fans in the NBA season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves was seeing Bronny James make his debut alongside his father, LeBron James. Their first game together ended with a positive result for the team.
With a 110-103 victory, the Lakers kicked off the season on a high note. After an underwhelming NBA preseason, Los Angeles aimed to demonstrate their potential for this regular season, with LeBron and Bronny both on the court.
Following the win, the James family spoke with TNT Sports and shared their thoughts about their historic moment. Bronny delivered a heartfelt message: “Just being on the court with my dad for the first time was a special moment.”
He added, “I’m extremely grateful for everything, especially the incredible opportunity to join this league and improve every day. I’m thankful for the support from the fans.”
LeBron’s words to Bronny after the match
It wasn’t just Bronny who shared his thoughts. LeBron also spoke about the significance of being on the same floor as his son for the first time: “It’s family. It’s always been family over everything. I’ve sacrificed a lot of time for this league, missing important moments with my sons. But being with Bronny today, it’s the greatest gift I’ve ever had.”
LeBron also revealed the advice he gave to Bronny as they prepared for their historic moment: “This league isn’t something that’s promised every day. You have to earn every moment. I think he understands that. He’s looking forward to the progress, and it’s still a process of getting better every single day.”
Bronny’s stats in his NBA regular season debut
While the emotional moment was the highlight of the game, Bronny had limited time on the floor during his debut. He played just 3 minutes at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Despite sharing the court with his father, Bronny managed to grab only 1 rebound, and fans will be eager to see him play more as he gets into game shape.
Reactions to Bronny’s debut
Lakers teammate Anthony Davis shared his thoughts on the father-son debut: “It was special to be part of it. I’ve been fortunate to witness a lot of LeBron moments since I’ve been here, but this one was monumental. As a father, you dream of moments like that. I don’t see myself playing with my kids—my son’s only 3—but to be able to share that experience with them is truly special.”
Anthony Edwards also commented on the moment after the match to the media, saying: “That was dope for those guys. ‘B’ is my guy, so I was super happy for him and Bronny.“