Timberwolves vs. Lakers: 5 Key Takeaways as LeBron and Bronny James Make History

It lasted just 2 minutes and 41 seconds. But its significance might last a lifetime.

For the first time, a father and son shared the court in an NBA game—LeBron James and Bronny James. And while it may be the last time, what they achieved is extraordinary. For a father to play two decades in the NBA is already rare, but even then, there’s no guarantee that his son will follow or even choose basketball.

But history was made Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena, four minutes before halftime. Both LeBron and Bronny checked into the game against the Timberwolves. The crowd rose to their feet, phones in hand, and applause drowned out the buzzer.

Here are five key takeaways from the Lakers’ 110-103 win, starting with what everyone came to see:

1. Father-Son Debut: James & James on the Court

The timing was perfect—the Lakers led 52-35, and halftime was approaching. No need to force the moment. Bronny, the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, wasn’t rushed off the bench and didn’t stay on the court long. It all felt natural.

Bronny missed a three-pointer after receiving a cross-court pass from LeBron. A Bron-to-Bron connection could’ve brought the house down, but the miss was met with a collective groan from the crowd. Still, history had been made.

Bronny played only a few minutes, taking two shots. The first was blocked by Rudy Gobert, but he showed solid defense and movement before his night ended.

LeBron reflected on the moment: “Everything was great today. I saw my daughter (Zhuri) turn 10, and then I saw my son at work.”

LeBron deserves credit—not just for staying in elite shape to play at this level for so long but also for preparing Bronny for this moment. No matter what happens next, the historical moment has been achieved. Everything else is secondary.

2. Ken Griffey Legacy: The First Father-Son Duo

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. were in attendance, posing for photos with LeBron and Bronny before the game. The Griffeys made history in baseball as the first father-son duo to play together, debuting for the Seattle Mariners on August 31, 1990.

Griffey Sr. reflected on the moment: “It’s legendary, seeing LeBron and Bronny. I enjoyed every minute of playing with my son, and I know LeBron feels the same.”

3. Anthony Davis Starts Strong

While Bronny’s debut stole headlines, Anthony Davis made his presence known. Davis dominated with 36 points, 16 rebounds, and 3 blocks, facing off against four-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. His performance echoed his strong play for Team USA in the gold medal game against France, where Gobert was also the opponent.

For the Lakers to succeed this season, Davis will need to perform at this level consistently, especially on both ends of the floor.

4. Julius Randle’s Rusty Return

Julius Randle, in just his second preseason appearance, struggled to find rhythm. His decision-making and ball handling were off, leading to a disconnect on offense.

Despite this, Randle will be key for the Timberwolves as a second scoring option alongside Anthony Edwards. If healthy, he can reach All-Star form. However, his inconsistent three-point shooting may force others like Donte DiVincenzo to pick up the slack, though DiVincenzo struggled, going 2-for-8 from beyond the arc.

5. Edwards Can’t Do It Alone

The Timberwolves leaned heavily on Anthony Edwards, who took 25 shots and scored 27 points despite being double-teamed. With Karl-Anthony Towns gone, Edwards’ offensive load is even heavier. The team shot just 41% from the field and 31% from deep.

The Wolves, last year’s best defensive team, will need more from role players like Naz Reid, Donte DiVincenzo, and Jaden McDaniels. If they want to make a deep playoff run, others will need to step up offensively to complement Edwards.