LeBron and Bronny James on the Brink of NBA History
The world of sports is on the verge of witnessing a remarkable milestone as Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny James, prepare to make history. In an unprecedented move, the Lakers selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. Should the father-son duo take the court this upcoming season, it would be the first time in NBA history that a father and son have played together.
This momentous event would place LeBron and Bronny in rarefied air, following in the footsteps of other iconic father-son duos in professional sports. The NBA has seen several notable father-son pairs, such as Greg and Cole Anthony, Mychal and Klay Thompson, Bill and Luke Walton, and Dell, Steph, and Seth Curry. However, none of these families have had the chance to share the court simultaneously.
The significance of such an accomplishment extends beyond the NBA, drawing parallels with historic tandems in other professional sports leagues. In the NFL, Ted and Charlie Nesser were the only father-son duo to play on the same team. The Nessers took the field together for the Columbus Panhandles against the Akron World's Champions on September 25, 1921. The Columbus Panhandles, a team with an illustrious history, later rebranded as the Columbus Tigers until 1926. The Nessers were a football dynasty, with six brothers—John, Paul, Phil, Ted, Frank, and Al—donning the Panhandles' colors at various times in the early 20th century.
Switching to the ice, legendary hockey player Gordie Howe had the unique opportunity to play alongside his sons, Mark and Marty Howe. Initially, Mark and Marty played for the Toronto Marlboros in the Ontario Hockey League during the 1972-73 season. Gordie Howe returned to the sport to join his sons in the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros in 1973, forging a formidable family line. Remarkably, Mark scored his first professional goal exactly 27 years after Gordie netted his first with the Detroit Red Wings. The trio transitioned to the NHL's Hartford Whalers for the 1979-80 season, where Gordie contributed 15 goals and 26 assists, showcasing the enduring nature of his talent.
Baseball, too, boasts its share of father-son duos, one of the most notable being Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., who played for the Seattle Mariners from 1990 to 1991. Their collaboration reached a pinnacle on September 14, 1990, when they hit back-to-back home runs, an unforgettable moment in MLB history. Ken Griffey Jr. had an exceptional 1990 season, scoring 91 runs, belting 22 homers, and maintaining a .300 batting average. Similarly, Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. also shared the outfield for the Baltimore Orioles toward the latter part of the 2001 season. On October 4, 2001, they both took positions with Tim Sr. in left field and Tim Jr. in center, adding another chapter to the rich lore of father-son athletic partnerships.
As we look ahead to the new NBA season, the potential on-court partnership between LeBron and Bronny James is a narrative filled with excitement and anticipation. LeBron, a four-time NBA champion and one of the greatest players in the league's history, now has the opportunity to mentor his son not just off the court, but on it as well. For Bronny, stepping onto the professional stage with his illustrious father offers a unique blend of pressure and inspiration. This historic convergence of past, present, and future holds immense promise and underscores the deep familial ties that run through the world of sports.
While there have been several father-son duos who have both been drafted into the NBA and many others across different sports have left their mark, seeing LeBron and Bronny James share the court could become a defining moment, symbolizing a legacy of basketball excellence. The sports world watches with bated breath as they prepare to possibly etch their names into the annals of history.