Basketball news: Celtics raise banner no. 18, Lebron James and son make NBA history
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After raising NBA Championship Banner No. 18, the most in NBA History, the Boston Celtics opened their 2024-25 regular season campaign by making a team record twenty-nine three-point shots enroute to their 132-109 victory over the New York Knickerbockers at the T.D. Bank Garden.
Celtics championship game night. PHOTO: BOSTON CELTICS /NBA
Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown led the Celtics’ scoring parade with 37 and 23 points, respectively. Teammates Derrick White (24 points), Jrue Holiday (18 points), and Al Horford (11 points) joined the scoring parade as the Celtics celebrated their first NBA title since 2008.
The three-point barrage tied the NBA record set by the Milwaukee Bucks in 2021. The team failed to set a new three-point record as they missed their last 13 attempts from beyond the arc.
Boston Celtics 2024 Championship ring PHOTO: BOSTON CELTICS/NBA
With stunning championship rings and a shining new NBA Championship Banner to their credit, the Celtics picked up victories over the Washington Wizards, Detroit Pistons and Milwaukee Bucks to run their record to 4-0. The defending NBA champions continue to get strong contributions from their starters and bench players, 30 points for Jaylen Brown to lead the starting unit and 28 points from backup guard Peyton Pritchard in the 119-108 triumph over the visiting Bucks.
A father and son first
Elsewhere on the NBA scene, the Los Angeles Lakers entered the sports record books as LeBron James and his son Bronny made history becoming the first father/son duo to take the court together in the history of the NBA. The history-making moment came at the eight-minute mark of the second quarter of the team’s home opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Bronny James failed to score, but he is still a unique part of sports history. He and his superstar dad were part of the first Lakers team to win its season-opening game in 2024.
Lebron James with his son Bronny. PHOTO: LOS ANGELES LAKERS/NBA
Anthony Davis’ 35 points, 15 rebounds, five blocked shots led the Lakers to victory and has been the catalyst for the team’s surprising 3-0 start under rookie head coach J.J. Reddick.
Father LeBron has stated for years that one of his greatest wishes was to play on the same NBA court with his son. While some are critical of this situation, feeling that Bronny James is not good enough to be an NBA player, his father beamed as he described his pride over making history with his son.
“I’ve dreamed of this day for many years,” said the senior James during a postgame interview. “I missed so many years of Bronny’s life by being away from him, my other children, and my family while playing in this league.”
“My father and I have always had a special bond,” said young Bronny James. “This is a dream come true for both of us. I am going to relish this moment for the rest of my life.”
It should be remembered that Bronny James suffered a life-threatening medical situation when he collapsed while playing a basketball game at the University of Southern California. His heart stopped, placing his life in jeopardy. He returned to play his freshman year at USC, averaging less than five points a game.
The heavy discussion came when the Lakers drafted Bronny James in the college draft’s second round. He was the 55th pick. The talk was that the Lakers did this to keep LeBron employed for the foreseeable future. Now that the historical part of the equation is complete, it will be interesting to see how this all works out for Bronny James, the son of an NBA legend. No matter what he accomplishes in the game of basketball, he will always be the son of LeBron James, the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. At least he has a unique place in sports history alongside his famous father.
Ken Griffey Sr. and his more famous son Ken Griffey Jr. attended the LeBron/Bronny James history-making event as jubilant spectators and close friends of the James family. The Griffeys made history in Major League Baseball in the 1990s.
They followed the Howe family legend of Gordie and sons Mark and Marty, who did their thing for the Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association in the 1970s. Gordie Howe came out of his retirement to play with his sons.
Ken Griffey Sr. hung on to play with his Hall of Fame son, and the duo set an MLB record by hitting back-to-back home runs in the same game. The uniqueness of the Griffey legacy is that the junior Griffey far eclipsed the achievements of his father, who was a star player in his own right.
With LeBron James still a viable player in the NBA, establishing more league records every time he plays, his history with his son is now in the sports record books.
