The 2024–2025 NBA season is shaping up to be one for the history books — and for the James family, it will be deeply personal. LeBron James and his eldest son Bronny James are set to make NBA history as the first father and son duo to take the court together in league play, suiting up for the Los Angeles Lakers when the season tips off on October 22.

While the moment is filled with pride and legacy, LeBron, 39, has laid out one important rule for the upcoming season: keep the family dynamic off the hardwood.

When the 19-year-old rookie joins his father on the court, LeBron says there’s one thing Bronny can’t do. “[Bronny] cannot call me dad in the workplace,” LeBron said in a teaser for a new episode of Uninterrupted’s The Shop podcast.

The Lakers star elaborated on why the boundary is necessary: “Once we leave out the private facility and the gates close, I could be dad again, in the car if we ride together, at home I could be dad.”

LeBron humorously emphasized that the court is not the place for father-son familiarity. “We cannot be running down the court, and he’d be like, ‘Dad, push the ball up! Dad, I’m open! Dad, come on!’” Instead, LeBron suggested a few alternatives: his jersey number or nickname. Bronny could call him “‘2-3’ or ‘Bron’ when he and Bronny share the court — ‘Or, you know, GOAT, if he wants to, it’s up to him,’” LeBron added with a smile.

The lighthearted moment is grounded in something more profound: a father’s dream realized. LeBron has long spoken about his desire to play alongside Bronny before retiring from the game. Now, that dream is becoming a reality.

In an interview with Craig Melvin that aired Monday, July 8, on Today, LeBron called Bronny’s arrival on the Lakers roster “the greatest accomplishment that I’ve ever had.” He praised his son’s resilience and individual journey, saying Bronny has “done it all as an individual,” and reflected on the personal meaning behind their shared milestone: “There’s no greater accomplishment that will be able to overtake me being on the same floor as my son.”

“It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened,” LeBron concluded.

The moment is especially meaningful considering what Bronny has overcome in the last year. In July 2023, Bronny suffered cardiac arrest during a practice at the University of Southern California, where he had just begun his college basketball career. He missed the first eight games of the NCAA season and was later diagnosed with “an anatomically and functionally significant congenital heart defect” by medical specialists.

Despite the setback, Bronny returned to the court with determination, completing his first and only season at USC before declaring for the NBA Draft. His story has become one of resilience, grit, and inspiration — values the James family has long embodied.

In addition to Bronny, LeBron shares two more children — Bryce Maximus, 17, and Zhuri Nova, 9 — with his wife Savannah James. The family has been a constant presence throughout LeBron’s career, but this season marks a new chapter, one where legacy and love intersect on the court in an unprecedented way.

For fans of basketball, the father-son duo represents the ultimate full-circle moment. For LeBron, it’s a personal victory beyond any championship ring. And for Bronny, it’s the beginning of a journey in the NBA — one where he’ll not only carve out his own name but do so with the greatest player of his generation right beside him.

With respect, humor, and a deep sense of pride, the James family is about to make history — one play at a time.