In a game that saw LeBron James sidelined in the closing moments due to a blowout loss, his son Bronny James made his mark by scoring his inaugural NBA points on Wednesday night. The Lakers suffered a 134-110 defeat to the Cavaliers, but the spotlight was on Bronny as he made a shot that echoed his father's style.
"To witness him scoring his first NBA basket in this arena, where he grew up nearby, is an incredible moment," LeBron remarked. "It's an unbelievable moment for him and for our family, it's just pretty cool to be part of it." It was anticipated that they would share the court, but instead, LeBron watched from the bench as Bronny captivated Cleveland.
LeBron, who had been dealing with a cold, exited the game in the fourth quarter after contributing 26 points in 29 minutes. From his spot on the bench, he watched his son bask in the adulation of the Cleveland crowd, which had cheered him for 11 seasons.
"It's the greatest thing in the world," LeBron said, reflecting on his son's dream coming true. As the Cavs dominated the Lakers, Cleveland fans began chanting "We want Bronny!" in hopes of seeing the rookie they had watched grow up. Bronny entered the game with 5:16 left and was greeted with loud cheers each time he touched the ball. He recorded two assists before scoring his first professional basket with a 14-foot shot from the left corner, reminiscent of many his father made for the Cavs.
The crowd's reaction was overwhelming for Bronny. "It was insane," he said. "Much more than I expected. It's all love. It was a nice moment. The chants really got to me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it and it felt pretty good, especially coming from here."
Growing up, Bronny roamed the hallways, rode the elevators, and practiced on the court at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse while his father played. Earlier in the day, Bronny expressed his feelings about returning to Ohio. "It's going to be really special," he said after the morning shootaround. "It feels good to be out here with my dad – in our home."
LeBron spent 11 seasons with the Cavs, leading them to the 2016 championship before joining the Lakers as a free agent. Last week, the 39-year-old and his 20-year-old son became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game. However, Bronny didn't score in the win over Minnesota, missing both his shots.
There has been some criticism of the Lakers drafting Bronny, who was selected in the second round after one year at USC. While some may argue it was to appease LeBron, Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson finds the story touching. "It's a beautiful story," Atkinson said. "Two kids of my own, I can't even imagine. I enjoy playing in the backyard with my son. To do it on an NBA court? Beautiful story. I love it. I think we should celebrate it."
After the Lakers' five-game road trip concludes on November 6th, Bronny is expected to join the South Bay Lakers in the G League. Despite being in Ohio for business, Bronny appreciates returning to his roots. "It feels good being here," he said before the game. "It's nice, slow living here in Ohio – way different from LA."
LeBron was warmly welcomed back. The four-time MVP received a standing ovation during introductions and again when the Cavs played a tribute video during a first-quarter timeout. LeBron joked that he didn't fully enjoy it due to the game's outcome.
"It was a pretty cool moment," he said. "I didn't really get an opportunity to seize the moment because we were getting our ass drugged. I was a little angry at that point in time during that timeout. I didn't get an opportunity to really appreciate it. But I heard it."
During the press conference, LeBron and Bronny reflected on another memorable night in a place they know well. "It's definitely very humbling," LeBron said. "We don't take it for granted, every time we get to come back and either play the game that we love or just be home and just be in the community. It's pretty cool."
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