Bronny and LeBron James are on the brink of rewriting NBA history. With the Los Angeles Lakers selecting Bronny as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the possibility of a father-son duo sharing the court is closer than ever. This would be a first for the NBA, an unprecedented event echoing through the annals of sports history.
The notion of family partnerships in professional sports is not entirely new. The NFL had Ted and Charlie Nesser, the only father-son pairing to have played on the same team. They suited up for the Columbus Panhandles in a game against the Akron World's Champions on September 25, 1921. Their tenure was brief, as the Panhandles later evolved into the Columbus Tigers, folding by 1926. The Nesser family wasn't short on talent, with six brothers—John, Paul, Phil, Ted, Frank, and Al—also taking the field at various times in the early 20th century.
In the world of hockey, Gordie Howe set an extraordinary precedent. Known as "Mr. Hockey," he played with his sons Mark and Marty for the NHL's Hartford Whalers during the 1979-80 season. This followed Gordie's remarkable comeback to join his sons in the World Hockey Association's Houston Aeros in 1973. Mark scored his first professional goal exactly 27 years after Gordie’s inaugural goal with the Detroit Red Wings. Gordie contributed 15 goals and 26 assists in the 1979-80 NHL season, showcasing that age hadn’t dampened his prowess on the ice.
Baseball has its own share of father-son moments. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played together for the Seattle Mariners in the early '90s. A highlight of their collaboration came on September 14, 1990, when they hit back-to-back home runs, an iconic moment immortalized in MLB lore. During the 1990 season, Ken Griffey Jr. tallied 91 runs, smashed 22 homers, and maintained a .300 batting average, heralding the arrival of a new baseball prodigy.
Another notable example is Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr., who patrolled the outfield for the Baltimore Orioles late in the 2001 season. On October 4, 2001, they took to the field together, with Raines Sr. in left field and Raines Jr. in center, adding yet another layer to the rich tapestry of sports family legacies.
As for basketball, the James family is set to enter a realm of its own. LeBron and Bronny James join a lineage of NBA father-son duos who have made their mark. Renowned pairs include Greg and Cole Anthony, Mychal and Klay Thompson, Bill and Luke Walton, as well as Dell, Steph, and Seth Curry. However, if LeBron and Bronny both hit the hardwood this season, they’ll achieve a feat that none before them have accomplished: playing on the same NBA team together.
As the season approaches, anticipation builds for this historic moment. The Jameses’ journey adds another chapter to the story of familial bonds in sports, demonstrating that talent and passion often run deep within family lines. Should LeBron and Bronny share the court, it will be not only a testament to their individual skills but also to the enduring power of legacy and the unique milestones achievable in the world of sports.