“Biggest moment is when they checked in together” - Ken Griffey Jr. on experiencing LeBron and Bronny James’ first game with his dad
Among the many wonderful accomplishments of Ken Griffey Jr. on the field, he holds the unique distinction of being the first MLB player to play on the same team alongside his father. The Hall of Fame outfielder described his excitement when he took Ken Griffey Sr. to watch Bronny James, son of basketball icon Lebron James, share the court with his father for his NBA debut in Los Angeles last month.
Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 54th overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. The 20-year-old came off the bench against the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 22 to play alongside Lebron James and become the first father-son duo in NBA history. Ken Griffey Jr. and his dad had a front-row seat for the event and even posted a photo with James and his son after the game.
Ken Griffey Jr. shared his experience that night while speaking to the MLB Network crew inside Yankee Stadium during Game 5 of the World Series last week.
"The biggest moment is when they checked in together," Griffey said. "I could see my dad look and smile out of the corner of my eye.
"But he did take enough photos that I think he can watch the game [in stills]," he added.
The Lakers beat the Wolves 110-103 on the night at Crypto.com Arena.
"You could see two proud fathers": Ken Griffey Jr. on his dad and LeBron James
Ken Griffey Jr. was the No. 1 overall pick of the 1987 MLB draft for the Seattle Mariners and made his MLB debut for the team two years later. His father was a key part of the legendary Cincinnati Reds team from the 1970s and won two World Series rings with the 'Big Red Machine'.
In 1990, the Mariners traded for Griffey Sr. at the age of 40, and the two made history as the first father-son duo in the major leagues to play for the same team. They also became the first father-son duo to hit back-to-back home runs on September 14, 1990.
Ken Griffey Jr. described the emotions his father felt during the Lakers game.
"Bronny and I stepped out for a second and you could see two proud fathers," Griffey Jr. said. "It was great.
"He just looked at me and he just goes, 'This is what it's like,'" he added. "Being on the other side when you're still playing, he still had work to do and he was still trying to prove. Not prove himself, but end out his career."
Half of Famer Tim Raines and his son Tim Raines Jr. are the only other father-son duo in the MLB when they played together for the Baltimore Orioles in 2001.