LeBron James reached a major milestone on his 31st trip to Madison Square Garden, hitting his 2,500th career 3-pointer and recording his 10th triple-double of the season. He finished with 33 points, 12 assists, and 11 rebounds in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 128-112 win over the New York Knicks.
This victory improved his record at MSG to 23-8, and it was a special game for his son, Bronny, who was playing at the arena for the first time.
LeBron has played in some amazing games at MSG, from 50-point performances to triple-doubles, but this one felt different, as it marked Bronny’s debut in the building. “I understand the history of this building,” LeBron said.
“So many people that’s come through this building, so many athletes, so many musicians, so many artists, whatever the case may be. And I’ve been part of Madison Square Garden for my 20-plus years, so just try to give back to it.”
In the final minutes, the crowd switched from cheering for LeBron to chanting “We want Bronny! We want Bronny!” Bronny finally got his chance to play, entering with 1:50 left in the game. He made a left layup on his only shot attempt.
Before the game, Bronny had heard his father talk about his love for MSG, but as a rookie, he didn’t feel anything special when he first walked into the arena. It wasn’t until the place was filled with celebrities and fans cheering for him that he understood its significance. “Getting a bucket in here … it’s insane,” Bronny said.
LeBron’s first 3-pointer of the night made him the seventh player in NBA history to reach 2,500 career 3-pointers. He had already passed Kyle Korver to take the seventh spot after making his 2,450th on Dec. 4. Next in line is Reggie Miller, who has 2,560 career 3-pointers. LeBron expressed pride in how much he’s improved over his 22 seasons, becoming just as tough to guard beyond the arc as he is in the paint.
But for LeBron, the most meaningful part of the night was being able to play with his son. “It’s probably the greatest thing I’ve ever been a part of,” he said. The two spent time together in New York on Friday with family and friends before sharing the court on Saturday.
LeBron reflected on how much he missed during Bronny’s childhood, including watching his games in AAU and high school. “For me to be able to see all the buckets he’s had as an NBA player with us, to be here with him is just special,” he said.