Lakers’ LeBron James calls playing with Bronny in playoffs ‘craziest thing’

Making NBA history isn’t anything new for the James family.

They did it when LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in an NBA game together during a Lakers’ preseason game on Oct. 6, 2024, before it was officially in the record books when they were on the floor together a couple of weeks later for the Lakers’ regular season-opening win over the Timberwolves on Oct. 22, 2024.

They connected on the first father-son assist in league history a few weeks ago, when the elder James passed to the younger James for a 3-pointer during the second quarter of the March 27 win over the Nets.

Another historic moment took place on Saturday night, with LeBron and Bronny becoming the first father and son to play in a playoff game together during the Lakers’ Game 1 victory over the Rockets at Crypto.com Arena to kick off the best-of-seven first round series. 

“There’s a lot of crazy things that have been going on this year for me,” LeBron James said. “I mean, s–t, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game. That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career. It’s just so cool to be out there with him — and his brother and his sister and his mom in the building. And his grandmom. Like, that’s just insane. My mom gets to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. Now, that’s crazy.”

Bronny made his playoff debut last year, playing four minutes across two games (in garbage time) during the Lakers’ five-game first round series loss to the Timberwolves. 

But with the Lakers without their star guards in Luka Dončić (left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (left oblique strain), Bronny was in the Lakers’ first-half rotation on Saturday night, starting the second quarter alongside his dad, Jake LaRavia, Jarred Vanderbilt and Jaxson Hayes. 

He had two fouls and recorded a turnover in four second-quarter minutes, with the Lakers playing an eight-man rotation in the second half.

While Saturday was Bronny’s third career NBA playoff game, and his first playing meaningful minutes, it was LeBron’s recorded-extending 293rd career playoff game. 

LeBron had 19 points, 13 assists, 8 rebounds, 2 steals and a blocked shot in 38 minutes against the Rockets. 

“No, I mean, we all prepared this week, including Bronny,” LeBron replied when asked if he gave Bronny advice. “But s–t, it’s just like, everybody in their first playoff game, you’re going to be nervous. You can try to prepare for it, you can try to sleep as much as you can the night before. You can do all the things that you do. You can do the same routine and everything, when you step on that floor.

“I remember my first — what was it, 2006, going against Washington, our first home game. Being back in the playoffs in a minute, in a long time, with the Cavs and just nervous as hell. As soon as I got on the floor, I was just super nervous. But once you get the jitters out, you get the first game under your belt, and now you know what to expect. So he’ll be better going into the next time he gets his number called.”

Game 2 for Lakers-Rockets is scheduled for Tuesday night in Los Angeles. 

Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: nypost.com