Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. will open for the Lakers, hoping to see LeBron and Bronny make NBA history.

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) – If LeBron James Sr. and his son, Bronny, made NBA history Tuesday night by playing in the same game for the Los Angeles Lakers, Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. they will be there to witness it.

The first father-son team to play together in Major League Baseball plans to attend the Lakers’ season opener in their hometown stadium, where the entire crowd will hope the James family will make the same rare play. for the NBA.

“The first father and son to play baseball, (and) now the first father and son to play basketball,” the younger Griffey said. MLB Network Radio. “It is a big deal that my father and I are there. We made history. Now we get to watch history, so that’s where it’s going to be fun. ”

Bronny James is already excited to make his official NBA debut, but the Griffeys’ presence adds even more anticipation for the Lakers’ second-round pick.

“Yeah, it’s going to be crazy,” the 20-year-old Bronny said after Monday’s practice at the Lakers’ practice facility. “I mean, only two families are going to do it, so it’s going to be a crazy experience, especially (with) what they’ve done.”

Bronny made it clear that he doesn’t know if he will play against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Lakers coach JJ Redick said “nothing is finalized or anything” regarding the rotation for the Los Angeles game.

However, it seems unlikely that the Lakers will wait to make the historic season they have been planning since the franchise selected Bronny with the 55th pick this summer to play with LeBron, the 39-year-old starter. the highest in NBA history. Father and son have already played together during the preseason, taking the court together outside of Palm Springs earlier this month.

Father and son play together in a nearly once-in-a-generation North American professional sports game. The Griffeys accomplished this feat in 1990 and 1991, playing in 51 games for the Seattle Mariners – even playing in one game on September 14, 1990.

Tim Raines and his namesake son also played four games together for the Baltimore Orioles at the end of the 2001 season. Before that, Gordie Howe matched his sons Mark and Marty in the WHA and NHL and for Team Canada in the 1970s.

Bronny grew up in the rooms of his father’s house and in the stadiums of Cleveland, Miami and Los Angeles, so he is ready to go beyond the historical moment and the everyday knowledge of becoming an NBA player. hand The Lakers start the season with three home games in five days.

“I think it’s going to be different,” Bronny said of the opener. “It’s nothing different for me when I prepare for another game, but the feeling of being in our home field for the first time and playing a game will be a special experience. . . . I’m just trying to come in and get better every day, learning from the guys that came before me. Just take it and enjoy the experience.”

Bronny played in all six of the Lakers’ preseason games, but his 4.2 points per game average was greatly boosted by his 17-point performance last weekend where the Lakers and Warriors had a bye. most of their key players.

Bronny hit 29.7% of his shots during the preseason while averaging 1.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists, playing 16.2 minutes per game. His defensive work was praised by Redick, who sees the 6-foot-2 guard becoming a solid perimeter player in the future.

“I’ve had some bad games, some bad starts, so (I’ve) just kept playing my game and playing hard,” Bronny said.

Bronny isn’t expected to be an immediate rotation player for the Lakers, who already have D’Angelo Russell, Gabe Vincent and 2023 pick Jalen Hood-Schifino ahead of him. There is a good chance that Bronny will start the season with the Lakers before heading to the G League to get the consistent playing time that he may need to improve.

But he’s still excited for the big moment — and he’s sure what he’ll call his dad on court after LeBron banned him from using “Dad.”

“Maybe Bron,” Bronny said with a smile. “Maybe it will be the easiest.”

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