In a fitting and emotional moment, Bronny James scored his first NBA points in Cleveland on Wednesday night, adding another chapter to the storied LeBron legacy in his father’s former city. However, it was a bittersweet debut as the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the undefeated Cleveland Cavaliers, who advanced to 5-0 this season.
After a quiet two-minute stint in the season opener, Bronny took the court in Cleveland, this time with a bit more luck. In his five minutes of action, he recorded his first career points along with two assists, giving fans a glimpse of what’s to come. The NBA’s social media channels commemorated the achievement, capturing the special moment in a post that read, “Bronny James scores his first-career bucket! Special moment in Cleveland.”
Reflecting on the occasion, Bronny described the surreal experience, especially with the Cleveland crowd cheering him on. “It was insane. Much more than I anticipated for sure. The chants really got me. I was straight-faced, but I felt it. It felt pretty good, especially coming from here [Cleveland]. It was a special moment for me,” he shared.
For LeBron, who spent 11 transformative years with the Cavaliers, the moment was deeply personal. “To see him get his first NBA basket in this arena, where he grew up not too far from here—it’s an unbelievable moment,” LeBron said, clearly moved.
Despite the milestone, the Lakers struggled against the Cavaliers, who were relentless on their home court. LeBron and the Lakers couldn’t keep pace, dropping their record as Cleveland remained one of the league’s only unbeaten teams.
Bronny, drafted 55th overall in 2024, is expected to split time between the Lakers and their G-League team as he adapts to the demands of the NBA. For Cleveland fans, witnessing the next generation of James make his mark on the same floor where his father’s legacy was forged was a touching moment, even amid the loss.
