In what the media is celebrating as a “historic moment,” Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, made his official NBA debut alongside his father during the Lakers’ 110-103 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. While the headlines are filled with nostalgia and hype, it’s hard to ignore the fact that Bronny’s performance was far from remarkable.

With just four minutes left in the second quarter, the 20-year-old rookie checked in alongside LeBron, becoming the first father-son duo to play together in a regular-season NBA game. While this may be a nice story for the media to fawn over, the reality is that Bronny contributed very little to the game. In his three minutes of action, he recorded just one rebound and missed both of his shot attempts, finishing the game with zero points.

The younger James, drafted 55th overall in the 2024 NBA draft, had a lackluster year at USC, averaging a mere 4.8 points on 36.6% shooting. His preseason performance wasn’t much better, as he struggled to find his rhythm, putting up 4.2 points per game on an unimpressive 29.7% shooting, including a dismal 1-for-12 from beyond the arc. Yes, he had a decent preseason finale with 17 points, but one game doesn’t make a star.

LeBron, always eager to grab the spotlight, called the moment “unforgettable” and said, “No matter how old I get, no matter how my memory may fade as I get older or whatever, I will never forget that moment.” But behind all the emotional anecdotes, it’s clear that this was more of a feel-good PR event than a meaningful contribution to the Lakers’ win.

Bronny himself seemed aware of the pressure, admitting, “I totally did feel the energy, and I appreciate Laker Nation for showing the support for me and my dad.” But energy and support don’t win games. If Bronny wants to make a real impact, he’ll need to focus on improving his game, not just riding the wave of his father’s fame.

LeBron, who finished with 16 points, played his role in the win, but he too downplayed the circus-like atmosphere, saying, “We wasn’t trying to make it about us. We wanted to make it about the team.” A noble sentiment, but let’s be honest—the media circus around this father-son moment was always going to be about the James duo, whether they intended it or not.

Interestingly, in attendance for this “historic” moment were Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr., the first father-son duo in Major League Baseball to play together. While comparisons between the two families are inevitable, the Griffeys were both dominant in their own right. Bronny, however, has yet to prove he belongs on the same court as his father, let alone in any father-son GOAT conversations.

In the end, this debut may be special for the James family, but for basketball fans, especially those who value merit over marketing, Bronny has a long way to go before he’s anything more than “LeBron’s kid” playing for one of the most storied franchises in NBA history. The media may love this father-son storyline, but it’s time for Bronny to step out of his father’s shadow and prove he can stand on his own.