LeBron James eager to share playoff floor with son Bronny as Lakers face Rockets

LeBron James says he is looking forward to sharing the court with his son Bronny James in the postseason for the first time, calling it “the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career” as the Los Angeles Lakers prepare to open their first-round series against the Houston Rockets.

The 41-year-old Lakers star will tie Karl Malone and John Stockton for the most playoff appearances in NBA history with 19 when Game 1 tips off Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC. But James says the opportunity to play alongside his 21-year-old son represents a new milestone that surpasses even his individual accomplishments.

“Me being on the floor with him,” LeBron James said after practice Thursday, “it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything that I’ve accomplished. So, the fact that he’s put himself in a position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool given the circumstances that he’s been given the last couple years.”

He added: “He earned it, he deserves it and he’ll be ready.”

Bronny James, a second-year guard selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, has seen his role increase significantly over the past month after injuries sidelined the team’s starting backcourt. Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves both went down with injuries two weeks ago, leaving Los Angeles short-handed and prompting head coach JJ Redick to turn to the younger James for meaningful minutes.

In the Lakers’ final six games of the regular season, Bronny James averaged 7.2 points on 47.2% shooting (42.9% from three-point range), with 1.8 assists, and 1.0 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per night. His improved shooting and defensive development have earned him trust in the rotation, according to Redick.

“We’re going to have to have all hands on deck for the series, that’s just when you’re short-handed,” Redick said via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “He’s got to be ready. Nick [Smith Jr.] will have to be ready. I reckon Bronny’s improved a lot. I think we trust him. The shooting piece, I’m a believer in, because of how well he shot it in the last two years in the G League.”

Redick as well noted Bronny’s defensive growth: “I know there was a stretch recently where he didn’t shoot it well and of course, he had a nice shooting game against Utah. He’s 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.”

Bronny James echoed his father’s excitement about the opportunity: “I signify, it’s what I’ve wanted,” he said Thursday. “My dream is to play in the playoffs. I wasn’t able to play in March, so Here’s a bigger stage than that, and I’m completely and totally excited to get out there with my teammates.”

The younger James has appeared in 42 games (one start) for the Lakers this season, with most of his minutes coming in garbage time earlier in the year. However, his production has increased significantly in recent weeks. In the five games since Doncic and Reaves were sidelined, he has averaged 6.6 points and 2.0 assists in 17 minutes per game.

In 14 G League games this season, Bronny James has averaged 15.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds with strong shooting numbers, further demonstrating his development ahead of the playoff opportunity.

LeBron James reflected on the significance of the moment: “Every moment we get an opportunity to play together is something I never take for granted,” he said. The father-son duo made NBA history last season when they became the first father and son to play together in a regular-season game. This season, they recorded the first father-to-son assist in league history.

Now, they have the chance to add another chapter to their family lore by playing postseason minutes together. The Lakers enter the playoffs as the Western Conference’s fifth seed and will face the fourth-seeded Houston Rockets in a best-of-seven first-round series beginning Saturday.

For LeBron James, the opportunity to share the floor with his son adds emotional weight to what is already a historic postseason run. Tying Malone and Stockton for the most playoff appearances ever would be a remarkable individual achievement, but doing so while playing alongside his son makes it even more meaningful.

As the Lakers prepare to face a Rockets team led by veterans like Fred VanVleet and emerging stars such as Jalen Green and Jabari Smith Jr., the James family’s unique storyline adds another layer of intrigue to a first-round matchup that already features several compelling narratives.

The winner of the series will advance to face either the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Clippers in the Western Conference semifinals. But for now, the focus in El Segundo remains on the chance to make history together.

“I’ve literally watched his whole career,” Bronny James said. “Now I’m a part of it. So it’s a great experience. I’m appreciative of it — but I’m part of the job, too. So I have to do my job as well. I’ve got to lock in.”

With the Lakers short-handed due to injuries in their backcourt, Bronny James is expected to play a role in the rotation throughout the series. His increased minutes and improved performance down the stretch have positioned him to contribute when called upon.

As tipoff approaches for Game 1, the storyline of a father and son sharing the playoff floor for the first time in NBA history stands as one of the most compelling subplots of the 2026 postseason.

The Los Angeles Lakers open their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets in Game 1 on Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET at Crypto.com Arena in El Segundo, California.