LeBron James and his eldest son, Bronny James, have made NBA history by playing alongside one another for the first time, marking a highly anticipated moment for the Los Angeles Lakers.

The father-son duo appeared together on Sunday at the beginning of the second quarter in the Lakers' 118-114 pre-season defeat to the Phoenix Suns in Palm Desert, east of Los Angeles.

LeBron delivered an impressive performance, scoring 19 points in just 16 minutes and 20 seconds before sitting out the second half. Meanwhile, Bronny faced a tougher challenge, failing to score in just over 13 minutes on the court, attempting only one shot.

“It was special for both of us, especially for our family,” said LeBron James, 39, after playing alongside Bronny, who celebrated his 20th birthday on Sunday. “It’s certainly a moment I will never forget.

“As a father, it means everything. For someone who didn’t have a father growing up, to be able to have that influence on your son, to share moments with him and to work alongside him – it’s one of the greatest things a father could ever wish for.”

James Snr admitted there were moments on the court that felt surreal.

“We came out of a timeout and ended up standing next to each other. I looked over at him. It felt like something out of The Matrix. It didn’t seem real. But it was amazing to experience those moments.”

Excitement has been building around the prospect of the James duo becoming the first father and son to appear in the same NBA line-up, especially since the Lakers selected Bronny as the 55th pick in the NBA Draft in June.

“I’m delighted to be part of this,” said new Lakers coach, JJ Redick, after witnessing the historic moment.

“It’s a great moment for basketball fans. It speaks volumes about LeBron’s longevity and competitive endurance. It also highlights Bronny’s hard work in getting to this level.”

Redick introduced Bronny James onto the court with the Lakers leading 34-25 early in the second quarter.

LeBron James has spoken about how playing alongside his son has given him renewed energy as he embarks on the 22nd season of his illustrious career.

“There’s a lot of excitement and pure joy in being able to come to work every day, putting in the effort with your son and watching him continue to grow,” LeBron said.

“We motivate each other. He pushes me, I push him, and together we push our teammates. It’s an incredibly joyful moment not only for me, but for our entire family.

“It’s pretty incredible. It really gives you a new lease on life.”

Bronny addressed recent criticism at the Lakers' media day, stating that he is motivated by those who suggest his place on the Lakers roster is solely due to his father’s legacy.

“I’m just taking all of that criticism and turning it into something that fuels me,” he said.

Bronny is expected to spend most of his rookie season in the developmental G League rather than featuring regularly in the Lakers’ senior squad.

The Lakers begin their 2024-25 regular season with a home game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on 22nd October.