LeBron James shouted through Instagram, tagging Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. after their courtside presence blessed a slice of NBA history.
“MAN!!!!! WHAT A MOMENT,” Lebron wrote on his Instagram story where he shared the moment. The baseball legends earlier watched as father and son stepped onto the Crypto.com Arena hardwood together – a mirror of their own legacy from 34 years ago.
“That was pretty cool… To be here today and to know that those guys will be in attendance tonight, me and Bronny on the same team, it’s a pretty cool moment in the history of sports,” LeBron James had shared before the game. His connection to the Griffeys runs deep: “I was a fan of Ken Griffey Sr. and then became a friend of Ken Griffey Jr. throughout my professional career.”
The Griffeys’ own story echoes through time. In 1990-91, they didn’t just play together for the Seattle Mariners – they hit back-to-back home runs. Now they watched as another father-son pair etched their names into sports lore.
“First father and son to play baseball, (and) now the first father and son to play basketball,” Griffey Jr. told MLB Network Radio. “We made history. Now we get to watch history.”
“It’s always been family over everything,” LeBron James reflected post-game, standing beside his son. “I lost a lot of time because of this league, so to be able to have this moment where I am working still and I can work alongside my son, it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever got from the man above.”
Bronny’s first steps in the NBA beyond the shadow
The 20-year-old’s NBA journey started with three minutes of court time. Two missed field goals and an offensive rebound marked his stat line, but numbers couldn’t capture the weight of the moment. “Going up to the scorers’ table and checking in for the first time was a crazy moment I will never forget,” Bronny admitted.
via Imago
Yet beneath the historic facade lies a young player determined to forge his own path. “He is just my teammate,” Bronny stated matter-of-factly about his father. While critics throw around “nepo baby” accusations, Lakers legend Magic Johnson jumped to his defense on X: “Bronny James is going to be a really good basketball player! Last night, he showed he has a few things you simply can’t teach – high basketball IQ, athleticism, and competitive spirit.”
The preseason numbers tell a developing story: 4.2 points on 29.7% shooting, 0.3 assists, and 1.2 turnovers across 6 games. But for Bronny, Tuesday night wasn’t about statistics. “Yeah, it’s gonna be exciting,” he’d said about the Griffeys’ attendance. “Two families to do it, so it’s gonna be a crazy experience.”
LeBron James, now in his 22nd season and fresh off a new two-year Lakers deal, closed the night with 16 points in 35 minutes. While he’d hope that his eldest boy would get more opportunities in the senior squad eventually becoming a perma in JJ’s 8-9 man rotation, that happening, though, does look like a big stretch for now, at least. Simply because Jr. isn’t ready. While his son’s three-minute cameo might have been brief, it opened a chapter both families – the James and the Griffeys – will forever share.
Honestly, you don’t get to see scenes like these every day. So, drop the criticism and relish the sight.
