After making his NBA debut in the Los Angeles Lakers regular-season opener, rookie Bronny James could make the second regular-season appearance against the Cleveland Cavs. At the same time, the Cavs remain undefeated. All-Star Donovan Mitchell’s message to Darius Garland’s haters was undoubtedly necessary after Garland’s 34-point performance in a 110-104 victory against the New York Knicks extended Cleveland’s regular-season record to 4-0 before welcoming 2016 Cavs champion superstar LeBron James and his son, Bronny, on Wednesday.
It is a homecoming for the NBA’s father-son duo. LeBron, the Akron, Ohio native, spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Cavs after Cleveland drafted him first overall in 2003. Bronny was born one year later. Some anticipate the two will make their first on-court appearance since their three-minute stint in their home opener against the Minnesota Timberwolves, per ClutchPoints’ Lakers insider Anthony Irwin.
“The South Bay Lakers tip off their season Nov. 9, and sources confirm reports that Bronny will be there for that and spend the bulk of this season focusing on growing his game,” Irwin said. “Sources have indicated the likelihood is pretty high that he’ll play alongside his father in Cleveland.”
According to one source, the experience of playing alongside Bronny has rejuvenated LeBron despite the fact the two haven’t shared the floor since last week’s opener.
“LeBron is loving this,” the source said. “He’s been doing this a long time, and eventually, these early-season stretches get kind of monotonous. But with him focused on setting an example for Bronny, he’s more dialed in now than he’s ever been since he got here.”
When James shockingly returned to The Land for four seasons in 2014, he secured the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2016.
Cavs can improve to 5-0 with a win versus Lakers
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Heading into the second week of the 2024-25 campaign with a 3-0 record, the Cavs were ranked No. 4 on NBA.com’s first Power Rankings of the regular season. However, after an emphatic victory against the Knicks to remain undefeated, a fifth win against LeBron James and the Lakers should bump them into the top 3 for next week.
The production between Cavs All-Star Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen, and Caris LeVert has been spectacular, and the offensive numbers are staggering, per NBA.com’s John Schuhmann.
“Darius Garland and Allen have played 33 minutes together without Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, while Mitchell and Mobley have played 43 minutes without Garland and Allen. In those 76 total minutes with just one starting guard and one starting big on the floor, the Cavs are a plus-52, having scored 132.3 points per 100 possessions,” Schumann reported.
The Cavs will host the Lakers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on Wednesday.
