Lakers' LeBron James Reacts to Playing with Bronny in 2026 NBA Playoffs in Trending Video

LeBron James posted a near triple-double (19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds) en route to leading the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers to a 107-98 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round series on Saturday.

Rockets-Lakers Highlights

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After the game, James talked about a few different topics, including playing with his eldest son, Bronny James, the second-year guard who played a few minutes off the bench.

"S--t, I was on the floor with my son in a playoff game," James said (h/t ESPN).

"That's probably the craziest thing that's ever happened to me in my career. It was just so cool to be out there with him and his brother and sister and his mom in the building and his grandma...that's just insane. My mom get to watch her son and her grandson during the playoffs. That's crazy."

LeBron and Bronny James became the first father-son duo to play in the league at the same time back in Oct. 2024. They also, obviously, became the first father-son duo to play on the same team. Now they are the first father-son duo to share the court together in the playoffs.

Bronny James did see a few minutes over two games in the first round last year against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but LeBron James was not in the game at the same time.

Elsewhere, it was a great night for the Lakers' starting lineup overall. All five players scored 14 or more points, with Luke Kennard posting a game-high 27.

James had great things to say about Kennard, a midseason trade acquisition from the Atlanta Hawks, during an interview with Lakers reporter Mike Trudell for Spectrum Sportsnet.

"Poise. Poise, ready for the moment. And we need everybody to step up. And he stepped up big time. I think he was five-of-five from the three-point line. Every shot was timely shots as well, especially in the fourth quarter and gave us another ball-handler. You know, obviously, we're missing two of our key ball-handlers with Luka and AR out, so it's great to have him."

Both teams were missing key players on Saturday. The Lakers were without Luka Dončić (Grade 2 left hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (Grade 2 left oblique strain). The Rockets were without Kevin Durant (right knee contusion).

Dončić and Reaves don't have concrete timelines for their return (head coach J.J. Redick said earlier this week that they were out indefinitely). Durant is day-to-day, per Rockets head coach Ime Udoka.

It's possible both teams could be shorthanded again on Tuesday, when the Lakers host the Rockets for Game 2. For L.A., that means LeBron and Bronny James could be sharing the court again as they look to put the No. 4 seed Lakers up two games to none in this best-of-seven series.