Bronny and LeBron James make NBA history as league's first father-son duo
LOS ANGELES - Tuesday marked Opening Night for the NBA and in true Hollywood fashion, the Los Angeles Lakers opened their season with a monumental moment.
It was a full house inside the Crypto.com Arena as the Lakers hosted the Minnesota Timberwolves for the marquee matchup.
For some fans, it was the first time since the spring that they experienced the aroma of grilled hot dogs and the sight of purple and gold everywhere they looked. Other than getting a first glimpse of the Lake Show for the 2024-25 season, some fans were hoping to witness NBA history.
"I’m trying to see LeBron and Bronny and witness history," one fan told FOX 11.
"It wouldn’t really make a positive impact of us winning, so I don’t really care if it happens or not," another fan said.
Along with Laker fans, even Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken. Griffey Jr. were in the house in hopes of seeing James’ legacy.
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"I certainly had a lot of opening nights during my playing career. And I can sort of empathize with just all the emotions that every player is going through. And obviously, an added layer to that is the potential of Bronny and LeBron playing together, which is historic. And wherever that does happen, we're all going to be thrilled to be part of it," Lakers head coach JJ Redick said ahead of the game.
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"I think everybody is on the same page. You know, we wanted to sort of make sense and we want it to happen naturally and in the flow of the game," he added.
For Redick, that moment came with just over three minutes left in the second quarter, and their time on court together was fast and furious, just as LeBron promised.
(Getty Images)
LeBron, who finished the night with 16 points, missed two perimeter shots before making a dunk. Bronny had an early offensive rebound and missed a tip-in, and his first NBA jump shot moments later was a 3-pointer that came up just short. He checked out one possession later with 1:19 left in the second quarter, getting another ovation.
"That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, it’s a moment I’m never going to forget," LeBron said. "No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment."
Anchored offensively and defensively by Anthony Davis, the Lakers beat the Timberwolves 110-103.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.