EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) 鈥� LeBron James and Bronny James made NBA history last season when a father and son . They took their family dynamic to another level this season by playing meaningful minutes together and even getting .
The James clan has the chance to add another chapter to its family lore this month, thanks to Bronny’s growth into a player that all of the Los Angeles Lakers can trust.
LeBron and Bronny seem likely to play postseason minutes together this month when face the Houston Rockets in the first round. The greatest scorer in NBA history and his 21-year-old son have been teammates for nearly two years, but the prospect of accomplishing a new first is still special to both generations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 insane,鈥� Bronny said Thursday after practice at the Lakers’ training complex. 鈥淚 mean, I鈥檝e literally watched his whole career. Now I鈥檓 a part of it. So it鈥檚 a great experience. I鈥檓 appreciative of it 鈥� but I鈥檓 part of the job, too. So I have to do my job as well. I鈥檝e got to lock in.鈥�
Bronny’s playing time has increased over the last month, and he has been a rotation member for the Lakers since went down with injuries two weeks ago.
LeBron takes an obvious fatherly pride in Bronny’s development into a contributor for their short-handed team.
鈥淓very moment we get an opportunity to play together is something I never take for granted,” LeBron said.
鈥淢e being on the floor with him postseason, regular season, training camp, practices, it鈥檚 the best thing that鈥檚 ever happened to me in my career, above everything I’ve accomplished,” he added. “The fact that he’s put himself in position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool, given the circumstances that he’s been through over the last couple of years. He earned it. He deserves it. He’ll be ready.鈥�
After playing sporadic NBA minutes during his first 1 1/2 NBA seasons, Bronny has stepped up into a regular role 鈥� partly out of necessity with the Lakers’ top two scorers sidelined, but also because he earned more playing time. He has played 13 minutes or more in seven of the Lakers’ past 10 games, averaging 19 minutes over the past four.
That responsibility seems likely to continue in the postseason, since Doncic and Reaves won鈥檛 play in Game 1 on Saturday, and there鈥檚 no timetable for their return.
Lakers coach JJ Redick confirmed he will be using every healthy option while Los Angeles attempts to beat overwhelming odds without its starting backcourt.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to have to have all hands on deck in this series,鈥� Redick said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just what we鈥檙e handed. I think Bronny has improved a lot. We trust him. The shooting piece (of his game), I鈥檓 a believer in, because of how well he shot it the last two years in the G League. … He鈥檚 improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning, both on and off ball. We want him to continue to evolve as a disruptive defender as well.鈥�
Bronny played only four playoff minutes last season during two of the Lakers鈥� first-round losses to Minnesota, and he acknowledges hasn鈥檛 played in many big games during his brief basketball career.
He spent his sole collegiate season at Southern California, but he didn鈥檛 suit up for the Trojans until midseason after his recovery from an offseason cardiac incident, and that team didn鈥檛 make the NCAA Tournament.
鈥淚t鈥檚 what I鈥檝e wanted, to play in the playoffs,鈥� Bronny said. 鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 able to play in March (Madness), and this is a bigger stage than that. I鈥檓 so excited to get out there with my teammates and try to get some wins and try to make it further in the playoffs.鈥�
If and when they play together this month, Bronny thinks they can connect quickly. After all, he knows LeBron鈥檚 game pretty well.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to give all the answers to the test, but I鈥檝e been watching him for a long time, and I鈥檝e kind of picked up on his tendencies,鈥� Bronny said with a grin. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 good that I鈥檓 paying attention during his career and what he likes to do in the postseason. I think we鈥檒l be able to play good together. My IQ isn鈥檛 going to be far behind him, but I know what he鈥檚 doing and where he likes to get the ball on the floor.鈥�
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