Bronny James scored the first basket of his NBA career. It was in Cleveland, just over 60 kilometers from Akron, where both he and LeBron were born. It was on the Cavaliers’ court, where he so often watched his father play from the stands. It was, in short, another memorable moment in this kind of live movie that the James family is recording during the Lakers’ season, who, by the way, came off badly 134-110 against a team that is still undefeated.
Bronny James, on the warm welcome he received in Cleveland: It was insane
With just over two minutes left in the game and with everything already settled, young Bronny scored two points that are already NBA history. With them he contributes minimally to the fact that he and LeBron are the highest scoring father-son duo in the League. The data is unbalanced. The father, the all-time leading scorer in the competition, has 40,580 points. The son, the two he scored on Thursday in the second game in which they both played.
Behind them would be the Bryants, with 38,895 points (5,252 from Joe Jellybean and 33,643 from Kobe); the Currys, with 36,393 and rising (12,670 from Dell and 23,723 from Stephen); the Thompsons, with 28,407 (12,810 from Mychal and 15,597 from Klay); and the Schayes, with 27,218 (18,438 from Dolph and 8,780 from Danny).
My first basket in the NBA is a dream come true
LeBron couldn’t be prouder to see his son make his first basket in the NBA. “It’s an incredible moment. For him, first of all, and then for our family. It’s great to be a part of it. It’s the best thing in the world”, he said. Bronny saw it “as a dream come true”.
Warmly welcomed by the Cavaliers
Father and son received the affection of the Cleveland franchise, which had details with them. They were greeted with welcome messages showing LeBron, who spent 11 seasons there in two spells, with the NBA championship trophy he won with the Cavaliers and Bronny, as a child, in a team celebration. Cavaliers fans also gave them warmth, especially the youngster, whose name they chanted when he took to the court.
“It was crazy, way more than I expected,” he said. “It was definitely all love. It was a nice moment. The chants really got to me. I was serious, but I felt it, and it felt really good, especially coming from here. Yeah, it was definitely a special moment for me.”
“I didn’t enjoy it too much because they were kicking our ass at the time,” LeBron said. “So I was a little upset about that, but we have so many wonderful memories on this court and also so many wonderful memories off the court in this community.”
It’s an incredible moment. For him, first and foremost, and then for our family. It’s great to be a part of this
Even the rivals experienced it intensely. Kenny Atkinson, the Cavaliers’ coach, believes that the James’ joint adventure “is a beautiful story. I have two sons and I can’t even imagine it. I enjoy playing in the backyard with my son, so to do it in the NBA… I love it. I think we should celebrate it.”
There may not be many more chances to see LeBron and Bronny together with the Lakers this season. That they coincided in Cleveland was something calculated, but the franchise plans that when the tour is over, the young man will go with the South Bay, the team linked in the G League. There he should have minutes to grow and improve.
