It was a family affair at Crypto.com Arena as the Lakers kicked off their season with a 110-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, but the spotlight wasn’t just on LeBron James. The King shared the court with his son, Bronny James, making them the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together in a regular-season game. While this historic moment had the basketball world buzzing, it was Bronny’s younger brother, Bryce James, who stole a little of the postgame limelight with his simple yet priceless reaction.
The James Family Hype Train
Seated in prime viewing spots, LeBron’s wife Savannah, daughter Zhuri, and, of course, Bryce were in attendance to witness what could only be described as the ultimate “family business.” As Bronny checked in for the first time with 4:00 left in the second quarter, cameras naturally panned to the James crew. Bryce, clearly pumped for his brother’s official Lakers debut, summed up the moment in the most Gen Z way possible. Posting a video of Bronny warming up in Lakers gear on Instagram, Bryce simply wrote, “Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa.” Sometimes, less is more—especially when you’re cheering on your big bro during an NBA debut!
LeBron and Bronny: Not Exactly a Fairytale Game, But…
Sure, the moment was monumental, but let’s be honest—Bronny’s stat line didn’t exactly scream “rookie sensation.” In just under three minutes of play, Bronny went 0-for-2, missing one three-point attempt and a mid-range shot. But hey, the guy’s just getting started, and honestly, with LeBron on the floor, he has a built-in 19-year cushion to learn the ropes.
LeBron, on the other hand, didn’t exactly put on his superhero cape either. He chipped in with 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks—not bad, but when Anthony Davis is out there being a basketball demigod, the King can afford to play the “supportive dad” role for a night.
Family First, Wins Later
Postgame, the James family got a little sentimental. LeBron reflected on the surreal nature of sharing the court with his son, while Bronny acknowledged that the moment would be etched in his memory forever. After a warm family embrace in the tunnel, the James family undoubtedly left the arena on cloud nine, even if Bronny’s debut wasn’t quite LeBron-level legendary. It’s safe to say there were a few Instagram stories from Zhuri, too—just no word yet on what her reaction was.
Looking Ahead: More Father-Son Action?
The Lakers’ next game is against none other than Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns—a matchup that could bring LeBron and Bronny back to the court together. Will Bronny get more than three minutes? Will Bryce be hyping him up from the stands with another iconic one-liner? Will LeBron casually drop a 40-piece to show his son how it’s done? The world will be watching.
In the end, the real MVP of the night wasn’t LeBron or even Bronny—it was Bryce with his perfectly timed, one-word Instagram post that captured the moment better than any stat line could.