LOS ANGELES — As LeBron James begins his 21st season in the NBA, this chapter in James’s storied career is more than just records and accolades this season he’s dedicated to his son Bronny James.
The eve of the 2023-24 NBA season brought an emotional unveiling as James, in collaboration with Beats, released a commercial that featured the entire James family. His wife, Savannah James, provided a heartfelt narrative, stating, “Tell them you’re not done and then play with your son…again,” as the camera panned to both of his sons.
The desire to play with Bronny became a public narrative and one of the storylines during last season as the Lakers competed in the Western Conference Finals against the Nuggets. Last season’s sweep to the reigning champion Nuggets was not the outcome the Lakers planned. For the first time in his career, James spoke about the possibility of imminent retirement. However, from that moment until the opening night of the NBA season, LeBron made it clear that he is not done just yet.
While he already boasts a plethora of accolades, including surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, LeBron’s aspiration to share the court with his sons is a testament to his unending love for the game and his family.
Bronny, who is currently a freshman at USC, experienced a frightening cardiac arrest during a practice session this summer. Bryce, James’s youngest son, is entering his junior year at Notre Dame High School. Beyond all of James’s accomplishments, among the top of the list is being a dedicated father.
As the saying goes, “Father Time is undefeated.” James, at 38-years-old, is the oldest active NBA player. Though it is a goal for LeBron to play with both of his sons, he is also the third most in minutes played. Following the Lakers’ season-opening loss to the defending champion Nuggets, he played 29 minutes. Lakers’ head coach Darvin Ham stated that James will play between 28-30 minutes this season.
“You always want to be on the floor. I guess there’s a system in place, and I’m going to follow it,” commented James.
Playing with both of his sons is not the only goal James has as he thinks about his legacy. During the Lakers’ preseason game in Las Vegas against the Brooklyn Nets, he expressed his interest in potentially being part of an NBA ownership group if the league expands to Las Vegas.
LeBron’s enthusiasm for this possibility stems from his belief that an NBA franchise in Las Vegas would add to the city’s growing momentum. He smiled as he spoke about it, saying, “I think it’s only a matter of time, and I hope I’m part of that time.”
While age may be at the top of basketball enthusiasts minds, it is evident that LeBron’s dedication to the game, his family, and the future of basketball knows no bounds.
