Clearly, the big story coming out of the Los Angeles Lakers’ preseason game against the Phoenix Suns was that LeBron James and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to share the court together in NBA history. It was a surreal moment and also one that head coach JJ Redick wanted to happen at some point during the game.

When LeBron made his preseason debut on Sunday, most assumed that moment would come, and Redick told both before the game that it was happening. That finally happened at the start of the second quarter, and Redick revealed why he chose that time.

“That was during a period where I think we were having some issues with our transition defense and just getting aligned,” Redick said after the Lakers fell to the Suns. “But I liked what I saw throughout the first half from all the groups we tried. As for why, I just wanted to give them a chance to play together in preseason within the flow of the game and how we had done the substitution patterns in game one. That was the right time to do it.”

In the Lakers preseason opener, Bronny got his first minutes at the start of the second quarter, so this was right in line with that. It was a moment that neither LeBron nor Bronny will ever forget and Redick felt very happy to be a part of that history as well.

“I’m happy to be part of this. I really am,” Redick added. “It’s cool as a basketball fan. I think it speaks to the longevity of LeBron, but also his competitive stamina that he can still do this in year 22. It speaks to the work that Bronny has put in to get to this point and really just the fatherly care and love, and certainly also Savannah’s motherly care.

“Bronny is such a great guy and it’s a pleasure to be with him. I was really hoping wing three had gone in on the small side of DHO. That would have been a cool moment, but they’ll have a lot of moments together, I’m sure.”

Bronny knocking down the three-pointer would have undoubtedly made for an incredible moment, but it just wasn’t meant to be on the night. But as Redick said, there will be other moments that LeBron and Bronny can share with the Lakers.

Lakers’ LeBron James shares the court with Bronny James for the first time

There is simply nothing that compares to the feeling LeBron James had when he shared the court with Bronny James in the Lakers’ preseason game against the Suns. Even after the game, LeBron still couldn’t quite understand that moment.

“Not really,” James said. “We’ll get used to it a little bit, but it’s pretty cool. It’s pretty cool for both of us, and especially for our family. It’s definitely a moment I’ll never forget.”

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