LeBron James Sr. and his son, Bronny make history, debut for Lakers at the same game.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. are gearing up to be at the arena for the Lakers’ season opener against the Timberwolves.

If LeBron James Sr. and his son, Bronny, make NBA history on Tuesday night by playing in the same game for the Los Angeles Lakers, they’ll have some special guests cheering them on—Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

The Griffeys, who were the first father-son duo to play together in Major League Baseball, are excited to witness this moment. They’ll be at the Lakers’ season opener in downtown LA, where the crowd will be hoping the James family can pull off the same rare feat in the NBA.

“We were the first father and son to play baseball together, and now we might see the first father and son to play basketball together,” the younger Griffey told MLB Network Radio. “It’s a big deal for my dad and me to be there. We made history, and now we get to watch history—that’s what makes it so cool.”

Bronny James is already pumped to make his NBA debut, but having the Griffeys in attendance adds even more excitement for the Lakers’ rookie.

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“Yeah, it’s going to be wild,” the 20-year-old Bronny said after Monday’s practice. “I mean, only two families have done it, so it’s going to be an unreal experience, especially considering what they’ve accomplished.”

However, Bronny isn’t sure if he’ll actually play in the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned that “nothing has been finalized” regarding the team’s lineup for the opener. Still, it’s hard to imagine the Lakers passing up the chance to make history after selecting Bronny with the 55th overall pick this summer. The father-son duo already shared the court during the preseason, debuting together in Palm Springs earlier this month.

Playing together as father and son in professional sports is a rare achievement. The Griffeys did it in 1990 and 1991, appearing in 51 games for the Seattle Mariners, even hitting home runs in the same game on September 14, 1990. Tim Raines and his son followed in their footsteps, playing four games together for the Baltimore Orioles in 2001. Before them, hockey legend Gordie Howe played alongside his sons Mark and Marty in the 1970s for the WHA, the NHL, and Team Canada.

Having grown up in his father’s locker rooms and arenas in Cleveland, Miami, and LA, Bronny is ready to move beyond this historic moment and focus on his journey to becoming a regular NBA contributor. The Lakers kick off the season with three home games in five days, and Bronny is eager to get started.

“I think it’ll be different,” Bronny said of the opener. “It’s not just another game because it’s our home opener, but I’m trying to stay focused and enjoy the experience. I just want to keep learning and improving every day, especially from the veterans who have been here before me.”

Bronny played in all six of the Lakers’ preseason games, averaging 4.2 points per game. His best performance came in the preseason finale, where he dropped 17 points, though most key players for the Lakers and Warriors were resting. Bronny shot 29.7% from the field during the preseason, while averaging 1.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists over 16.2 minutes per game. His defense has been praised by Redick, who sees potential in Bronny as a solid perimeter player.

“I’ve had some tough games and rough starts, but I’m just focusing on playing my game and giving it my all,” Bronny said.

While Bronny isn’t expected to be a regular rotation player for the Lakers right away—given that D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent, and first-round pick Jalen Hood-Schifino are ahead of him at point guard—there’s a good chance he’ll start the season with the Lakers before heading to the G League for more playing time.

Still, Bronny is beyond excited about this milestone, and he’s even got a plan for what to call his dad on the court since LeBron has banned him from using “Dad.”

“I’ll probably just go with ‘Bron,’” Bronny said with a grin. “That seems like the easiest one.”

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