Bronny and LeBron James are on the brink of achieving a milestone that has eluded the NBA since its inception. The Los Angeles Lakers chose Bronny James as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, setting the stage for what could be an extraordinary moment in professional basketball. Should both Jameses take the court together this upcoming season, they would become the first father-son duo to play simultaneously in the league.
The potential father-son game would be a landmark event not just in the NBA but in the broader context of American sports. Historically, the NFL and MLB have seen such occurrences, but they remain exceedingly rare. Ted and Charlie Nesser hold the distinction of being the only father-son pair to have played on the same NFL team. They took the field for the Columbus Panhandles against the Akron World's Champions on September 25, 1921. Though the Columbus Panhandles were later disbanded and rebranded as the Columbus Tigers until 1926, the Nessers secured their place in sports history.
In hockey, Gordie Howe played alongside his sons Mark and Marty for the Hartford Whalers. The elder Howe made a return to the ice primarily to join his sons in the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros in 1973 before transitioning to the NHL's Hartford Whalers in the 1979-80 season. Gordie Howe contributed significantly that season, adding 15 goals and 26 assists to his storied career. Mark Howe scored his first professional goal exactly 27 years after Gordie's first goal with the Detroit Red Wings, etching another notable chapter in the annals of sports history.
Father-Son Duos in Major League Baseball
In Major League Baseball, the Griffeys—Ken Sr. and Ken Jr.—shared the outfield for the Seattle Mariners from 1990 to 1991. Their partnership on the field reached a peak on September 14, 1990, when they hit back-to-back home runs in a game. Ken Griffey Jr. posted impressive statistics in the 1990 season, scoring 91 runs, hitting 22 home runs, and maintaining a .300 batting average. Similarly, Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. took the outfield together for the Baltimore Orioles in the latter part of the 2001 season. On October 4, 2001, Tim Sr. played in left field while Tim Jr. covered center field.
NBA Father-Son Duos
The NBA has seen many father-son pairs drafted individually but never has a pair played together. Notable duos include Greg and Cole Anthony, Mychal and Klay Thompson, Bill and Luke Walton, and the Curry family—Dell, Steph, and Seth. The prospect of LeBron and Bronny James playing in the same game adds an unprecedented layer to these storied familial legacies.
For LeBron James, this represents both a personal and professional zenith. Already a four-time NBA champion and one of the most celebrated players in the sport’s history, playing alongside his son would be an emotional and career-defining moment. For Bronny, stepping onto the court with his father not only highlights his own budding career but places him within a narrative of generational talent and familial bonds.
As we anticipate this historic event, it is essential to recognize the rarity and significance of such moments in the realm of professional sports. They connect the past with the present, showing how familial ties can transcend even the highest levels of athletic achievement. Should LeBron and Bronny James share the court, it will be a testament to their prowess, dedication, and the evolving landscape of professional basketball.
As the upcoming NBA season looms, fans and sports historians alike will be watching closely, aware that they may witness a new chapter in a long and storied lineage of father-son athletic partnerships.