LeBron and Bronny James made NBA history last night, becoming the first father-son duo to appear in an NBA regular-season game. In a highly anticipated moment, Bronny entered the game for three minutes during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. During his brief stint on the court, Bronny missed both of his shot attempts but managed to grab an offensive rebound.
His father, LeBron James, had a solid performance, scoring 16 points, pulling down five rebounds, and dishing out four assists.
The moment the two checked into the game together in the first half was celebrated by many NBA fans and marked a milestone for LeBron, who has long expressed his desire to play alongside his son in the league. The emotional significance of the occasion was not lost on those who have followed the careers of both father and son. However, not everyone was impressed.
On ESPN’s First Take, Chris Russo, known for his outspoken and often contrarian views, was quick to downplay the importance of Bronny’s debut. During Wednesday morning’s show, Russo dismissed the hype surrounding the historic moment.
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“This might be fun for LeBron, but nobody in America cares that Bronny James played three minutes and grabbed one rebound at 11 o’clock at night in the opener,” Russo said. “And this is supposed to be a moment that America is going to resonate with? I’m being serious now, and I love the kid.”
Russo’s take stirred up debate on the show, with host Molly Qerim trying to argue in favor of the significance of the father-son moment. Despite her efforts, Russo remained adamant that Bronny’s brief appearance on the court was being overhyped.
“Can I ask you a question?” Russo pressed. “If LeBron James wasn’t the second-greatest player in the history of basketball, would this still be a story?” He further speculated that the Lakers only drafted Bronny to appease and “energize” LeBron, citing similar opinions expressed by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
Russo doubled down on his stance, saying, “Sorry folks, I ain’t buying it. You guys can go crazy, call me anything you want, but I can’t get into it.”
Despite Russo’s skepticism, many fans and analysts viewed the moment as a touching culmination of LeBron’s long-expressed desire to share the NBA court with his son. The game represented a landmark event not just for the James family, but also for the sport, marking another unique chapter in LeBron’s legendary career.
Looking ahead, it remains to be seen how much Bronny will feature in the Lakers’ rotation this season. He played only three minutes in the game, and it appears the Lakers have a core nine-man rotation for critical moments.
As the season progresses, Bronny may have limited opportunities to see the court. The Lakers’ next game is Friday against the Phoenix Suns, and expectations are that Bronny may not play significant minutes.
Whether or not Bronny becomes a regular contributor to the Lakers this season, his debut alongside his father will remain a memorable milestone in NBA history.
While some, like Russo, may downplay the significance of the event, it’s clear that for many, the James duo sharing the court was a special moment that transcended the game itself.
