One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty Go Deep on the Show's Lore and Take Sides on Naley vs. Leyton

One Tree Hill's Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty Reflect on the Show's Legacy

Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty, who portrayed half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott on the acclaimed series One Tree Hill, reunited for PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive issue. The show aired from 2003 to 2012 and marked its 22nd anniversary since their debut on the River Court.

On-Screen Rivalry and Off-Screen Friendship

Though their characters often clashed in the series, Murray and Lafferty share a close bond off-screen. Lafferty recalls how filming scenes together always led to laughter.

“The only times I couldn’t stop laughing were when I was shooting scenes with him,” says Lafferty, 40.

Murray, now 44, adds, Really, really good times.

Reunion to Celebrate PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive Issue

The actors came together to revisit memories and explore the lore of One Tree Hill, as well as discuss fan-favorite pairings like "Naley" and "Leyton."

James Lafferty on Basketball and Preparing for the Role

During his audition for the show, Lafferty faced challenges in basketball, prompting him to train over the summer.

“During auditions I had to play one-on-one and failed miserably. I immediately got a basketball coach for the summer.”

He further shares, I played basketball in high school and was close in age to my character, so it was a perfect fit.

Additional Content

For more from the Sexiest Man Alive issue, including the cover story featuring Jonathan Bailey, the latest issue of PEOPLE hits newsstands Friday.

Summary: Chad Michael Murray and James Lafferty fondly recall their time on One Tree Hill, highlighting their off-screen friendship and dedication to authentically portraying their basketball-playing characters.

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People.com People.com — 2025-11-06

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