LeBron and son Brony James played together for the first time in a preseason game for the Lakers

PALM DESERT, Calif. (AP) — LeBron James grew up without a father, and the leading scorer in NBA history has often said he relishes every moment and milestone with his own three children.

When he stepped onto the court Sunday night to play with his son Bronny for the Los Angeles Lakers, the moment meant more to him than basketball history.

It was a family dream come true.

LeBron and Bronny became the first father and son to play the first half of an NBA game together Lakers ' preseason contest against Phoenix, playing for just over four minutes in the second quarter.

“It's pretty cool for both of us and especially for our family,” LeBron said. “It's definitely a moment I'll never forget.”

The James family's significant moment coincidentally happened to be Brony's 20th birthday and felt like a celebration for LeBron, 39, who has expressed his desire for the opportunity since Brony was in high school.

Although LeBron knows they will have more opportunities to play together in the Lakers' upcoming season, being on the court together in uniform for the first time felt “unreal” to the four-time NBA champion and 20-time All-Star.

“For a dad, it means everything,” LeBron said. “For someone who didn't grow up, to be able to have that influence on your kids and to have that influence on your son, to be able to spend moments with your son — and ultimately, to be able to work with your son — that's the greatest thing that ever happened. A father could ever hope or wish.”

Brony James entered the preseason game as a substitute to start the second quarter, joining her father on the court at Acrisar Arena in the Coachella Valley. Before the game, Bronny was told by coach JJ Redick that he would play with LeBron, but the rookie maintained his usual demeanor both before and after.

“I was pretty psyched for it,” Bronny said.

Although he's been much less vocal about the whole situation than LeBron, Brony is still learning how to navigate the on-court relationship with his father, who has repeatedly insisted that his son can't call him “Daddy” on the court.

“I'm always thinking, 'That's my dad!', because it's literally my dad,” Bronny said. “But when I play, he's just my teammate. That's all.”

Their minutes together weren't as smooth as they would be later in the season: Brony committed two turnovers and LeBron committed another in their first two minutes. Moments after LeBron hits a 3-pointer, LeBron gets the ball to Broney and sets a screen for his son's 3-point attempt, but Broney misses.

“I was really hoping that Wing 3 would go in,” Redick said with a smile. “It will be a great moment. But they will have many moments together, I'm sure.”

Brony came in for a replacement 4:09 into the second quarter and LeBron came in the next dead ball 25 seconds later. LeBron had 19 points, five rebounds and four assists in 16 minutes in the first half, and he watched the second half for the Lakers from the bench alongside Anthony Davis.

Brony played nearly nine minutes in the second half, but was unable to score in the Lakers' 118-114 loss to the Suns.

“I just told him, 'Keep being good,'” LeBron said. “He is young. He wants to keep improving, and that's the most important thing. So whenever you get a moment there, just keep making winning plays. Keep learning from his mistakes and make winning plays.”

LeBron James is entering his record 22nd season in the NBA, while LeBron James Jr. — known to all as Brony — was a second-round draft pick of the Lakers this summer. After recovering from Cardiac arrest a year agoBroney played just one season at Southern California before entering the draft.

Redick vowed that the pairing would just happen “in the flow of the game” and not be “tricky.”

“I'm thrilled I get to be a part of it, I really am,” Redick said. “It's great as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to LeBron's longevity, but also his competitiveness that he's still able to do this at 22 years old. It speaks to the work Brony has put in to get to this point, and really just fatherly care, And of course Mom cares from Savannah too. Bronnie, she's a great kid and a joy to be around.”

The 6-foot-2 Broney is expected to spend most of next season playing with the G League's South Bay Lakers, but he will certainly be able to play with his 6-foot-9 father in a real game. Early in the regular season.

The games that count begin Oct. 22 at home against Minnesota.

Although LeBron will turn 40 in late December, the leading scorer in NBA history shows no signs of slowing down with age. LeBron sat out the Lakers' preseason opener against Minnesota last Friday night, rested after a full week of training camp after a busy summer. Bronny had two points 1-for-6 shooting and three blocked shots in 16 minutes against the Timberwolves.

LeBron was early in his second NBA season with the Cleveland Cavaliers when he and his high school sweetheart, Savannah Brinson, became parents for the first time in 2004. They had two more children — son Bryce and daughter Zhuri.

LeBron and Brony have been preparing for their chance to play together ever since LeBron returned from summer vacation after winning a gold medal with Team USA at the Paris Olympics.

As both teammates and opponents, father and son have repeatedly sparred together during workouts at the Lakers' training complex.

During the regular season, they will join a short list of fathers and sons who have shared a playing field in North American professional sports. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played together with the Seattle Mariners for parts of the 1990 and 1991 baseball seasons, while hockey great Gordie Howe played with sons Marty and Mark of the Houston Eros in the WHA and New England/Hartford Whalers. In the WHA and NHL. ___

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