Shaquille O’Neal offered just three words to describe Bronny James’ NBA debut.
LeBron and Bronny made history on Tuesday, becoming the first father son duo to play in the NBA. The pair came off the bench together in the opening game of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2024/25 season against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
It was Bronny’s first regular season action since being selected by the Lakers in the second round of the NBA draft.
He lasted under three second quarter minutes before being withdrawn, but it was enough to get everyone talking.
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That included O’Neal, who was covering the game as part of ‘Inside the NBA’.
Speaking afterwards, O’Neal simply said: ‘History was made.”
O’Neal’s co-host Kenny Smith was pleased for the younger James on his big moment. He said: "Great to see the young fella out there.”
Fans at the Crypto.com Arena were thrilled to get a glimpse of an emotional moment for LeBron, who has long since dreamed of one day playing alongside his son in an official NBA game.
But watching his shortlived NBA debut, others were not so excited about Bronny’s long term prospects in the league.
One said on X: “Bronny James has zero reason to be on a NBA roster. Nepotism at its finest.”
Another added: "Bronny James touching an NBA floor in a regular season game is the biggest display of nepotism in the history of professional sports. An absolute travesty.”
A third simply wrote: “Bronny James is trash.”
Bronny has big shoes to fill as he follows his famous father into professional basketball. LeBron is the top scorer in NBA history and fans have long since debated his GOAT credentials against Michael Jordan.
But LeBron claimed he will never forget the experience of playing alongside his son.
“That moment, us being at the scorer’s table together and checking in together, it’s a moment I’m never going to forget,” LeBron said.
“No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.”
Topics: NBA, Lebron James, Shaquille ONeal
Alex Chivers