2024-10-31 18:40:02
CLEVELAND — Akron native LeBron James posed for photographs, gave hugs and exchanged handshakes with dozens of people, a collection of family, friends and fans, Wednesday night on his way out of Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
James had just experienced a dual homecoming and added a new chapter to his legacy by appearing in the same NBA game as his eldest son, Bronny, in their old stomping grounds.
For the Los Angeles Lakers‘ father-son duo, the icing on the cake was Bronny James also scored for the first time in an NBA regular-season game, albeit late during a 134-110 loss to the unbeaten Cavaliers.
“To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena where he grew up not too far away from here, it’s an unbelievable moment, an unbelievable moment for him, first of all, for our family,” LeBron James said. “It’s just pretty cool to be a part of it.”
Bronny James scored his first regular-season points as an NBA player when he made a 14-foot jump shot with 2:03 left in the fourth quarter.
“It was just a dream come true for me,” he said.
LeBron James scored 26 points on 9-of-13 shooting from the field and added six rebounds and three assists in 29 minutes. He is dealing with an illness, but it didn’t sideline him on a memorable night.
In an unexpected twist, the Jameses did not play at the same time against the Cavs, who won their only championship in franchise history with LeBron James leading the way in 2016.
LeBron and Bronny James became the league’s first father-son tandem to play together on Oct. 22, when the Lakers (3-2) opened the 2024-25 regular season at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
“It’s a beautiful story,” Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson said. “[With] two kids of my own, I can’t even imagine, right? I enjoy playing in the backyard with my son — to do it on an NBA court? Beautiful story. I love it. I think we should celebrate it.”
Cleveland celebrated it by creating what Atkinson described as an electric atmosphere.
With 5:16 left in the fourth quarter and the Lakers trailing 119-98, Bronny James checked into the game for the first time, but his dad was done playing for the night. The son came off the bench after fans chanted “we want Bronny” with about eight and a half minutes left to play and the Cavs (5-0) ahead by 23 points. The chants boomed on two other occasions with 7:06 and 6:29 remaining. He received loud cheers when he entered the game and again when he made his basket.
“It was insane, much more than I anticipated, for sure, but it’s all love,” said Bronny James, who finished with two points on 1-of-2 shooting from the field, two assists and a steal in five minutes. “It was insane. It was a nice moment. The chants really got me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it, and it felt really good, especially coming from here. Yeah, it was a special moment for me, for sure.”
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LeBron James is accustomed to receiving a hero’s welcome when he reunites with the Cavs, but the most recent one proved to be different. The Cavaliers played a tribute video and shouted out LeBron and Bronny James together. With the Cavs ahead 20-15, the presentation displayed on the scoreboards with 6:55 left in the first quarter elicited a standing ovation from the Cleveland crowd.
“It was a pretty cool moment,” LeBron James said. “I didn’t really get an opportunity to kind of seize the moment because we was getting our [butts kicked] at that moment. So I was a little angry. I was a little angry at that point in time during that timeout. So I didn’t get an opportunity to really, like, appreciate it. But I heard it. And then when they said his name, too, that’s when I kind of looked up. And I believe I tapped him on the leg, I believe. That’s just pretty cool, though.”
Adding to the hometown flavor, Bronny James toted a drink and bag of food from Swensons after the game. The famous drive-in business with Akron roots is one of his father’s favorites.
The Cavs drafted LeBron James No. 1 overall out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in 2003. The next year, the oldest of LeBron and Savannah James’ three children, Bronny, was born at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital.
As a kid, Bronny James spent countless days in the downtown arena where his dad used to compete as a member of the Cavs. Bronny James revealed he even played pickup basketball on the arena’s top-floor practice court with the children of other players during Cavs games.
The memories came flooding back.
“[We have] a lot of great memories on the court, but a lot of great memories off the floor as well in this community,” LeBron James said. “To have the mutual respect and love for what we was able to accomplish in the years that we were here, it’s definitely very humbling. And we don’t take it for granted every time we get to come back and either play the game that we love, which we did tonight, or just be home and just be in the community.”
LeBron James, 39, is in his 22nd NBA season. The league’s all-time leading scorer has played 11 seasons with the Cavs (2003-10 and 2014-18), four with the Miami Heat (2010-14) and is in his seventh with the Lakers (2018-present).
In June, the Lakers drafted Bronny James, 20, in the second round (No. 55 overall) out of the University of Southern California.
Now LeBron James is witnessing his new teammate and son realize an NBA dream.
“It’s the greatest thing in the world,” LeBron James said.
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at [email protected]. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
