LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony were two proud dads watching their sons Bronny James, Bryce James, and Kiyan Anthony, face off in a high school basketball game that ended up being a star-studded affair. Go inside for game details, as well as flicks of LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Savannah James, Lala Anthony, Scottie Pippen and more…
Like father, like son…literally!
It was history repeating itself and a total full circle moment when senior guard Bronny James and sophomore guard/forward Bryce James played against sophomore guard Kiyan Anthony for the Geico High School Showcase on ESPN. And it quickly morphed into a star-studded affair.
Bronny and Bryce James – sons of NBA legend LeBron James – play for Sierra Canyon, and Kiyan, son of NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, plays for Christ The King.
Bronny goes coast to coast for a lefty finish @0BronnyJames @SCanyonSports pic.twitter.com/IHxH2lSEuJ
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) December 13, 2022
The game was tense throughout, with both teams vying for victory. In the end, Sierra Canyon clinched the win, 62-51, with Bronny scoring 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Kiyan finished with eight points. Of course, both LeBron and Melo were courtside, cheering their sons on.
Kiyan Anthony gets on the board with a smooth outside shot @kiyananthony @ctkroyals pic.twitter.com/FPcFriEYby
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) December 13, 2022
Watch the highlights below:
Twenty years ago, LeBron and Carmelo were high school rivals and faced off in February 2002 in front of 11,000 fans at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, New Jersey. Melo’s Oak Hill Academy defeated LeBron’s St. Vincent-St. Mary, 72-66. At that time, LeBron was the nation’s top junior. He scored 36 points, with 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 6 steals. Melo, who was the No. 1 senior prospect scored 34 points with 11 rebounds, and 2 assists.
20 years ago, @kingjames made his debut on ESPN.
Bronny follows in his footsteps tonight on ESPN2 @SCNext pic.twitter.com/4i8IxNNO7l
— ESPN (@espn) December 12, 2022
In the stands…
Six-time NBA champion and Basketball Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen and his son, Scottie Pippen Jr., were spotted in the stands to support Scottie’s son, Justin Pippen, who plays for Sierra Canyon High School with Bronny and Bryce.
Watch him in action below:
Justin Pippen hits Bronny James for the corner 3. #basketball #sierracanyon #bronnyjames #justinpippen #toprecruit #prospect #topprospect #5starrecruit #ncaa #highschoolbasketball #collegebasketball #eybl #bball #basketballislife #basketballneverstops pic.twitter.com/ZHV1mssDnZ
— Dee Black (@deeblackmma2) December 13, 2022
Also…
Hardaway to Chuol #basketball #ashtonhardaway #majokchuol #sierracanyon #toprecruit #prospect #topprospect #ncaa #highschoolbasketball #collegebasketball #eybl #bball #basketballislife #basketballneverstops pic.twitter.com/irRvV5aTUC
— Dee Black (@deeblackmma2) December 13, 2022
Four-star forward Ashton Hardaway, the son of current Memphis coach and NBA-great Penny Hardaway, also hooped it up in the game. He recently committed and signed to play for his father at the University of Memphis. Sweet!
Savannah James, LeBron’s wife, came out to support her boys, Bronny and Bryce.
Courtside @KingJames & Savannah James
(: @cassyathena) pic.twitter.com/bp9wlLz5uf
— GQ Sports (@GQSports) December 13, 2022
And I’ll say it again, Savannah James is so FLY pic.twitter.com/sFqXbX33OH
— (@lamadrina89) December 13, 2022
Lala Anthony made her way to the game to cheer her son Kiyan on. The “BMF” star brought Natalia Byrant, daughter of the late Kobe Bryant & Vanessa Bryant, her friends Kim and Khloe Kardasian, and North West, daughter of Kanye West and Kim K.
Natalia Bryant, Lala Anthony, Kim Kardashian and North West talk court side at the Sierra Canyon vs Christ The King boys basketball game. pic.twitter.com/mYNrOLuSxd
— @21metgala (@21metgala) December 13, 2022
Celebrities & NBA brass at the Christ the King vs. Sierra Canyon game tonight!
LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kim Kardashian, Scottie Pippen, Scotty Pippen Jr., Kenyon Martin
Bronny James, Bryce James, Kiyan Anthony, Justin Pippen, & Ashton Hardaway (Penny) are all playing! pic.twitter.com/RWuJCn4JhE
— NBA Buzz (@OfficialNBABuzz) December 13, 2022
After the game, the James Gang and the Anthony Family came together for a photo-op:
The next generation @KingJames | @carmeloanthony pic.twitter.com/dN3pM1TgLN
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 13, 2022
”Last night was a night to remember!,” Lala captioned a carousel of photos taken during the historic game. “Seeing the boys play against each other in front of all of our family and friends was so exciting and just the beginning of amazing things to come for all of them. I couldn’t have been more proud. 21 years later. History repeated itself.”
King James also took to social media to commemorate the special moment:
”LEGACY,” LeBron captioned photos from the game and throwback photos of himself and Melo from 20 years ago.
Melo said watching his son and LeBron’s kids play against one another was “surreal.”
A full circle moment for sure.
Bron Melo pic.twitter.com/30GQqsAqZp
— SportsCenter NEXT (@SCNext) December 13, 2022
Fun times.
Photo: LeBron’s IG