As the 2024-25 NBA season tips off, anticipation is building for the historic moment when LeBron James and his son Bronny will take the court together for the first time. However, the Lakers superstar is not rushing the momentous occasion, stating calmly, “Whenever it happens, it will happen.”
LeBron, now 39 and entering his 22nd season, reflected on Bronny’s journey to the NBA, particularly the cardiac arrest his son suffered in July 2023 during a summer workout. “Not too long ago that the scare happened,” LeBron recalled. “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.”
Bronny’s Remarkable Recovery
The elder James marveled at his son’s resilience, noting that Bronny played in a Division I college game the same year as his heart surgery. “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,” LeBron said. “And I knew that at that moment that there really was going to be nothing to stop him from getting to this — to anything that he wants to do.”
Bronny’s determination was evident from the start. “One of the first things that he asked, he asked the doctors after his heart surgery, like, ‘When can I play again?'” LeBron recalled. “Not like, ‘How long is it going to take for my heart to heal?’ Or not, ‘How long was I in surgery?’ None of those. He asked, ‘When can I play again?'”
A Preseason Glimpse
LeBron and Bronny shared the court briefly during the preseason, with the younger James struggling initially but finishing strong with a 17-point performance against the Golden State Warriors. Whether they take the floor together in the season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves or later in the season, the moment will be historic.
Griffeys in Attendance
Adding to the significance of the occasion, Ken Griffey Jr. and his father, Ken Griffey Sr., the first father-son teammates in Major League Baseball history, will be in attendance for the Lakers’ opener. LeBron, a longtime fan and friend of Ken Griffey Jr., reflected on the importance of their presence. “To be here today and to know that those guys will be in attendance tonight while me and Bronny are on the same team is a pretty cool moment in history of sports,” he said.
The Basketball Equivalent of Back-to-Back Home Runs
When asked about the basketball equivalent of the Griffeys’ back-to-back home runs, LeBron had a ready answer. “Probably two lobs,” he said. “I catch a lob and then Bronny catches a lob, that probably be the equivalent of that. Obviously the long ball is something that’s big time in baseball, so probably two lobs.”
As the NBA world eagerly awaits the historic pairing of LeBron and Bronny James, the Lakers star’s measured approach underscores the importance of patience and perspective. Bronny’s remarkable recovery and unwavering determination have brought him to this moment, and when the time is right, father and son will make history together on the court.
