2024-10-31 13:40:02
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It was a special moment for LeBron James and his son Bronny on Wednesday as the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In the arena where James spent much of his career, Bronny notched his first career points, hitting a stepback jumper in the fourth quarter. After the game, James reflected on what it meant to him and his family.
“He’s better than I would have been in that situation,” James said. “20,000 fans screaming my name and wanting me to get in the game… I just commend him on his composure, the way he approaches the game, approach life in general. To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena, he grew up not too far away from here, just an unbelievable moment for him, an unbelievable moment for our family. It’s cool to be a part of it.”
It was just the second appearance of Bronny’s career—the first coming in the Lakers’ season opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves. As he walked toward the scorer’s table, he was met with applause from Cavs fans. Shortly after checking in, he hit his first basket.
He played five minutes in the blowout loss, scoring two points and collecting a pair of assists and a steal. Even though Los Angeles didn’t get the result it wanted on Wednesday, the James family couldn’t have asked for a better place for Bronny to score his first points.
James, drafted by the Cavs in 2003, spent 11 years in Cleveland and went to five NBA Finals, winning the franchise’s first in 2016. Subsequently, Bronny spent much of his childhood in Cleveland and is very familiar with Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.
Ahead of Wednesday’s matchup, the Cavs welcomed back the James family along with D’Angelo Russell and assistant coach Scott Brooks.
With his first career points behind him, Bronny is looking to continue developing so he can find his way into the Lakers’ everyday rotation. The Athletic’s Jovan Buha recently reported that Bronny will “likely” head to the G League after the matchup with the Cavs, which will give him the chance to get more much-needed minutes.
