The Los Angeles Lakers saw their season end at the hands of the Oklahoma City Thunder. With a mix of veterans and younger players, the team battled inconsistency and injuries to post a 53-29 record.
Earning the No. 4 seed in the competitive Western Conference gained the team respect. On a team filled with stars, it was a familial one that caught the eye.
Lakers’ LeBron James Recounts Special Moment with His Son, Bronny
After 1,924 games between the regular season and playoffs, the elder James faces an unknown future. However, before entering season No. 24, he looked back at a pivotal moment involving his teammate and son. On the “Mind Your Game” podcast, James details a moment that he will always cherish.
“One of the most impressive things for me was to be out there in the playoff game with Bronny; you know, we had a stretch in one of those games, I think it was Game 3 in Houston, where we ran off ten straight points between the two of us in a postseason game.”
James detailed what he felt in those moments, playing on the biggest stage with his child.
“That was like that was a moment where I kind of blacked out and was like, ‘What is going on?'”
In most sports, fathers and sons do not usually play together because of the age difference and the brevity of careers. However, James stayed active and elite in the game for over two decades. As a result, playing with his son in the playoffs became an opportunity. The Lakers closed out the Houston Rockets in the first round.
In his second season, the younger James improved, averaging 2.9 points on 40.9% shooting while making 38.6% of his three-pointers. Granted, he only started one game, but he saw action in 42 contests.
In contrast, James the younger battled to reach the league, waiting until the No. 55 pick in the 2024 draft to hear his name called. Even then, spending time in the G League to improve his game became a necessity.
With the team apparently building around star guard Luka Dončić, the future of the James family with the Lakers is not certain. Dončić missed a chunk of the remainder of the season with an injury. Yet, his court vision and shooting give the franchise a player to build around, and they look to add pieces.
Meanwhile, James will become a free agent in July. Additionally, he has not mentioned a timeline regarding his career. With four league MVP awards and 21 All-NBA selections, on top of the most points in league history, what more does James have left to accomplish?
In winning every major award and championship, it appears that playing on the court as his son will be a career highlight. What will be his next destination? If he stays with the Lakers, what can the team expect from the on-court growth of his son?
