LeBron Shares Special Moment with Bronny on the Court: NBA’s First Father-Son Assist
LeBron and Bronny James Make NBA History with Historic Assist in Lakers’ Victory
Los Angeles, CA – In a groundbreaking moment in basketball history, LeBron James recorded the first father-son assist in the NBA during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 116-99 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. The milestone occurred when the NBA’s all-time leading scorer passed the ball to his son, Bronny James, who successfully made a 3-pointer in the second quarter.
“That was a special moment for us two, and a lot more to come down the road,” Bronny remarked following the game.
The duo played significant minutes together for the second consecutive game as the Lakers returned from a successful road trip. The father and son checked in simultaneously at the start of the second quarter, sharing nearly four and a half minutes on the court. Both players contributed during this time, with LeBron scoring on a driving layup and Bronny netting a 3-pointer from just beyond the arc.
"Not taking it for granted, just being in the moment of us being on the floor once again," LeBron said. "That’s two games back-to-back, playing meaningful minutes. … He was able to fake the pass to the corner and then knock down the 3. Definitely a cool moment for us, and also for the family."
Reflecting on his experience, Bronny recalled a lighter moment from their time together: “Last time I played him 1-on-1, I don’t know if this story has come out, but he broke a backboard at our house in Miami.”
His teammate, Austin Reaves, chimed in, asking, “Because you won?” Bronny confirmed with a grin, prompting Reaves to add, “Yeah! You can say that! Don’t leave that out!”
Bronny has primarily played limited minutes this season, his second with the Lakers, often participating in G League games as well. However, with starting guard Marcus Smart sidelined by injury in recent weeks, Bronny has gained more opportunities to contribute, evident in the Lakers’ games against Indiana and Brooklyn.
“I’ve gotten more and more reps, getting comfortable shooting behind the NBA line,” Bronny explained. “It’s gotten more and more comfortable for me to shoot it just without thinking. Nothing much to it but just getting reps and keeping at it.”
LeBron noted that Bronny’s shooting ability is steadily returning to pre-incident form, following a cardiac arrest incident during a practice at the University of Southern California in 2023. “It’s just getting back to where it was before the incident," he said. "He’s always been able to shoot the ball. So I think it’s just the confidence and the rhythm and getting his strength back.”
The pairing of LeBron and Bronny makes them the first father and son to play together in the NBA, a unique achievement in the league’s history. Though Bronny’s role is currently that of a supporting player, he expressed gratitude for the opportunity to develop his skills while witnessing his father’s continued success, which recently included setting the NBA’s record for career games played.
“I’ve been wanting to play basketball my whole life,” Bronny stated. “I knew that was going to be my job at one point, and it’s a dream come true. I’m so privileged to be able to play basketball for a job, and I love every single second of it.”
