On Sunday, April 19, 2026 at 2:09 PM, Aurélie Sacchelli of Media365 reported that on Saturday, LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play in an NBA playoff game. The Lakers veteran was understandably proud.
Back on October 22, 2024, LeBron and Bronny James made history as the first father-son duo to play in a regular-season NBA game. This past Saturday, they made history again by playing together in a playoff match. In the previous season, Bronny only played for 3 minutes and 40 seconds in the playoffs against Minnesota, with his father on the bench. However, during Game 1 of the first round against Houston (107-98), the 21-year-old and 41-year-old players played together for a short time in the second quarter.
LeBron James expressed his pride and emotion at a press conference, calling the experience of playing with his son in a playoff game “probably the craziest thing that has happened in my career.” He reflected on the significance of sharing the court with his son, surrounded by their family.
LeBron James believes that the pressure of their first playoff game is now behind them and that his son will only get better. He shared his own experience of nerves during his first playoffs game in 2006 and expressed confidence that Bronny will improve with time.
Bronny James, who was drafted 55th in 2024, has faced criticism for his position in the Lakers due to his family ties. Despite averaging 2.3 points in seven minutes in his first season, he improved to 2.9 points in nine minutes this season. As his contract continues, the question remains whether he will stay with the Lakers if his father leaves.
On the other hand, his 18-year-old brother Bryce James, who attends the University of Arizona, opted not to play in the NCAA this season.
