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'Real special': Bronny James eager for dual homecoming with LeBron James in Lakers vs Cavs
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- 'Real special': Bronny James eager for dual homecoming with LeBron James in Lakers vs Cavs
CLEVELAND — Memories of Old Trail School and a taste of Swensons remind Bronny James he's back in Northeast Ohio.
When the Los Angeles Lakers face the Cavaliers on Wednesday night at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse , the game will serve as a dual homecoming for James and his legendary father, Akron native LeBron James.
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Oct 22, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) and forward LeBron James (23) warm up before a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
The Jameses became the first father-son tandem to play together in an NBA game during the Lakers ' regular-season opener Oct. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves in LA.
Bronny James hasn't appeared in a game with the Lakers (3-1) since then, but if all goes as planned, the rookie and his dad will play against the Cavs (4-0). LeBron James wasn't at the portion of Lakers shootaround open to media, but LA listed him as probable to play with an illness.
"It's going to be real special," Bronny James said Wednesday afternoon following Lakers shootaround. "It feels good to be out here with my dad in our home.
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"It feels good being here. It's nice, slow living here in Ohio — way different from LA."
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Bronny James was born at Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital in 2004, the year after the Cavs drafted his dad first overall out of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. The family has a house in Bath Township, and Bronny James attended Old Trail School as a kid.
"I love that school," said Bronny James, drafted by the Lakers in the second round (No. 55 overall) in June. "Old Trail has its own little box and memory in my head, so I'm really appreciative for all those teachers [who] support me."
Oct 22, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; NBA on TNT sideline reporter Taylor Rooks interviews Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) and guard Bronny James (9) after they defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images
Like his father, Bronny James said he feels the need to eat a meal from Swensons when he returns to the 330.
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"What does he like, a Galley Boy?" Bronny James, 20, said with a smile. "Yeah, I don't [order a Galley Boy]. I just get a double cheeseburger, maybe some broken onion rings, like a Florida or something."
The downtown Cleveland arena the Cavaliers call home is familiar, too. A young Bronny James spent plenty of time there watching LeBron James , 39. Bronny James revealed he also played pickup basketball on the practice court with other players' kids during Cavs games.
Now Bronny James is preparing to play in a game against the NBA franchise for which his dad won a championship in 2016.
"I'm pretty sure it'd be phenomenal," Lakers forward Anthony Davis said of the Jameses appearing on the court in Cleveland. "Bron, two stints here. Bronny grew up around the game essentially here. [He's] been in this arena. You see pictures and videos of him shooting on his court. I'm pretty sure it'd be a special moment kind of similar to the one that they shared in the first game against Minnesota."
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Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Bronny James says Lakers vs Cavs homecoming with LeBron 'real special'
