CLEVELAND (AP) 鈥� The shot was familiar. So was the roar.
As LeBron James watched from a few feet away, his son, Bronny, triggered another on-court celebration in Cleveland. Bronny's dad gave him the stage to himself, and he knew just what to do on a floor where he first learned to dribbled.
With LeBron on the bench in the final minutes of a blowout loss, Bronny James scored his first points in an NBA game 鈥� on a shot that looked just like his old man 鈥� on Wednesday night in a .
鈥淭o see him get his first NBA basket in this arena, where he grew up not too far away from here, that鈥檚 an unbelievable moment,鈥� LeBron said. "Unbelievable moment for him, and for our family it鈥檚 just pretty cool to be a part of it.鈥�
It had been expected they would play together. Instead, it was LeBron watching as Bronny made Cleveland rock.
LeBron, who has been battling a cold, checked out in the fourth quarter after scoring 26 points in 29 minutes. From his seat at the end of L.A.'s bench, he got to enjoy seeing his son soak in the love from a Cleveland crowd that cheered his every move for 11 seasons.
Proud hardly described it.
鈥淚t's the greatest thing in the world,鈥� LeBron said of seeing his son fulfil a dream.
With the Cavs running away from the Lakers, Cleveland's fans began chanting 鈥淲e want Bronny!鈥� hoping to see the rookie they watched grow up. The younger James checked in with 5:16 left and was cheered loudly every time he touched the ball.
He picked up two assists and then made his first basket as a pro on a 14-foot shot from the left corner with 2:03 left, a bucket reminiscent of so many that his dad, the league's career scoring leader, made routinely for the Cavs.
As the crowd erupted, Bronny wasn't sure how to react.
鈥淚t was insane,鈥� he said. 鈥淢uch more than I anticipated for sure. It鈥檚 all love. It was a nice moment. The chants really got me. I was straight faced, but I felt it and it felt pretty good, especially coming from here.鈥�
When Bronny was little, he ran through the hallways, rode the elevators and took shots on the practice court inside Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse while his famous dad played in games.
Earlier in the day, Bronny reflected on his Ohio homecoming.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be real special,鈥� he said following the morning shootaround. 鈥淚t feels good to be out here with my dad 鈥� in our home.鈥�
LeBron spent 11 seasons over two stints with the Cavs, leading them to the 2016 title before leaving as a free agent for the Lakers two years later. Last week, the 39-year-old superstar and his 20-year-old son
However, Bronny didn't score in the win over Minnesota, missing both shots.
There has been some criticism of the Lakers' decision to draft Bronny, who was taken in the second round after playing one year at USC. While some of the reasoning may have been to satisfy LeBron, Cavs first-year coach Kenny Atkinson said seeing them together is moving.
鈥淚t's a beautiful story,鈥� Atkinson said. 鈥淭wo kids of my own, I can鈥檛 even imagine. I enjoy playing in the backyard with my son. To do it on an NBA court? Beautiful story. I love it. I think we should celebrate it.鈥�
Once the Lakers end this five-game road trip Nov. 6, Bronny is expected to join the club's G League team, the South Bay Lakers. Although he was back in his home state on business this time, the younger James said it's always a treat returning to his roots.
"It feels good being here,鈥� he said before the game. "It鈥檚 nice, slow living here in Ohio 鈥� way different from LA.鈥�
LeBron also was welcomed back with open arms.
The four-time league MVP received a huge ovation during pre-game introductions and then again when the Cavs played a video tribute to him and Bronny on the scoreboard during a timeout in the first quarter.
LeBron joked that he didn't get to enjoy it.
鈥淚t was a pretty cool moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really get an opportunity to seize the moment because we were getting our ass drugged. I was a little angry at that point in time during that timeout. I didn鈥檛 get an opportunity to really appreciate it. But I heard it.鈥�
Sitting side by side during the press conference, LeBron and Bronny could reflect on another memorable night in a place they know well.
This time, they left as teammates after making history.
The first father and son to score in an NBA game. And they did it in Cleveland.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely very humbling,鈥� LeBron said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 take it for granted, every time we get to come back and either play the game that we love or just be home and just be in the community. It鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥�
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AP NBA:
Tom Withers, The Associated Press
