Bronny James makes Lakers debut in NBA preseason game against the Timberwolves… with dad LeBron watching on from the bench

Bronny James made his much-anticipated debut for the Los Angeles Lakers in their preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

The 19-year-old has joined his father, LeBron, in Los Angeles but James Sr. watched Friday’s game from the bench in Palm Desert.

Both the elder James and teammate Anthony Davis were held out of the lineup by new head coach J.J. Reddick because of rest. 

After all, Davis and James helped Team USA win a gold medal in the Paris Olympics in mid-August. 

Bronny entered the NBA draft after only one season in college basketball with the USC Trojans.

Bronny James made his NBA debut during a preseason game for the Lakers against Minnesota

LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Jarred Vanderbilt all watched the game from the bench

The younger James was chosen with the No 55 overall selection in the NBA Draft to become the first active father-son duo on the same NBA roster. 

Bronny’s selection was viewed as a heavy case of NBA nepotism, as his college statistics were worse than some players that were not selected in the draft.

Yet, that didn’t prevent him from cashing in as he heads to the pros, as Bronny inked a huge contract with the Lakers worthy of a first-round pick. 

Bronny has agreed to a four-year, $7.9million deal with a team option of the fourth year. 

Bronny’s contract is the second-largest ever for a second-round draft pick, with last year’s No 34 overall pick, Sacramento’s Colby Jones, signing an $8.8million deal.  

The Lakers other NBA Draft selection from this year, former Tennessee star Dalton Knecht, signed a four-year, $18.4million contract after being picked at No 17 overall. 

LeBron had long expressed a desire to play with Bronny in the NBA, with that dream turning into a reality.

The James duo become the first father and son to be on the same NBA roster, with family friend JJ Redick installed as the team’s head coach. 

The 19-year-old James only averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game during his freshman season at USC. 

Redick has never been an NBA coach before and now is at the helm of one of the most popular sports franchises in America.