LeBron James is no stranger to the postseason, but this year brings something entirely new.
As the Los Angeles Lakers prepare for their first-round matchup against the Houston Rockets, the 41-year-old superstar is set to share the playoff stage with his son, Bronny James, for the first time.
For LeBron, the moment stands above everything else he’s accomplished in his legendary career.
“Me being on the floor with him,” LeBron said after practice, “it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me in my career, above everything that I’ve accomplished. So, the fact that he’s put himself in a position to get his number called for a postseason game is pretty remarkable and pretty cool given the circumstances that he’s been given the last couple years.
“He earned it, he deserves it, and he’ll be ready.”
Head coach JJ Redick emphasized that trust has been building.
“We’re going to have to have all hands on deck for the series,” Redick said, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “When you’re short-handed, he’s got to be ready. … I think Bronny’s improved a lot. I think we trust him. The shooting piece I’m a believer in because of how well he’s shot it for the last two years in the G League. … He’s improved a ton defensively, in terms of his body positioning both on- and off-ball.”
For Bronny, the moment is something he’s been chasing.
“I mean, it’s what I’ve wanted,” Bronny said. “My dream is to play in the playoffs. I wasn’t able to play in March, so this is a bigger stage than that, and I’m completely and totally excited to get out there with my teammates.”
For LeBron, the focus remains the same, even as history unfolds.
“Nothing changes for me from the regular season to the postseason besides just [having] even more heightened focus,” he said. “The only thing that changes in the postseason, you just know that you are going to be playing the same team at least four times — so you got to key in on them and understand like tendencies even more and be more thorough.”
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