Bronny and LeBron James are on the brink of creating a new chapter in sports history. The Los Angeles Lakers recently chose LeBron's eldest son, Bronny, with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. This selection carries more weight than just a father's pride; it sets the stage for an unprecedented event in NBA history. If both Jameses step onto the court in the upcoming season, it will be the first time a father-son duo has played together in the NBA.
Such a feat may be unheard of in the NBA, but it has a notable precedent in other sports leagues. In the NFL, Ted and Charlie Nesser remain the sole father-son pair to have played on the same team. They took the field for the Columbus Panhandles against the Akron World's Champions on September 25, 1921. The Panhandles, later rebranded as the Columbus Tigers, were a family affair for the Nessers. Besides Ted and Charlie, six other Nesser brothers—John, Paul, Phil, Ted, Frank, and Al—suited up for the Panhandles at various times in the early 20th century.
The NHL also saw a historic family alignment with Gordie Howe and his sons, Mark and Marty. Howe, an iconic player, first joined his sons in the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros in 1973. This extraordinary familial fusion included Mark Howe scoring his first professional goal exactly 27 years after his father had netted his first goal for the Detroit Red Wings. The trio eventually transitioned to the NHL's Hartford Whalers for the 1979-80 season, during which the elder Howe contributed 15 goals and 26 assists — an impressive tally at any age, let alone his 51st year.
Baseball has also witnessed father-son collaborations. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played together for the Seattle Mariners from 1990 to 1991. Their most memorable moment came on September 14, 1990, when they hit back-to-back home runs. Ken Griffey Jr. subsequently produced an outstanding season with 91 runs, 22 homers, and a .300 batting average in 1990. Not far behind, Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. shared the outfield for the Baltimore Orioles in the latter part of the 2001 season. On October 4 that year, the elder Raines manned left field while his son handled center field, showcasing a unique father-son dynamic in Major League Baseball.
Back in the NBA, LeBron James and Bronny are set to join a rarefied list of father-son duos who have both been drafted into the league. Notable pairs include Greg and Cole Anthony, Mychal and Klay Thompson, Bill and Luke Walton, and Dell, Steph, and Seth Curry. Each of these partnerships has etched its own mark on the league, but none has had the opportunity to share the court simultaneously—a milestone the James family is on the cusp of achieving.
In the rich history of professional sports, family legacies have always carried a special resonance with fans. Seeing an iconic figure like LeBron James, who has dominated the NBA for over two decades, potentially play alongside his son Bronny adds another layer of intrigue and nostalgia. It's a reminder of the cyclical nature of sports, where each generation builds on the legacy of the ones before it.
For fans of the Los Angeles Lakers and the NBA at large, this upcoming season promises a storyline dripping with historical significance and emotional weight. Should LeBron and Bronny manage to share the hardwood, it will signify not just a milestone for the James family but also an unprecedented chapter in the annals of professional basketball.