LeBron James and Bronny James will likely become the first father and son pairing to play in the NBA at the same time. The younger James declared for the 2024 NBA Draft recently after one season with the USC Trojans.
Whether they play on the same team remains to be seen. But it got us thinking. Who are the best-known father and son duos in NBA history? We check in on that below.
10. Glen Rice and Glen Rice Jr.
After a brilliant career at Michigan, Glen Rice was the No. 4 pick of the Miami Heat in the 1989 NBA Draft. He was actually just the expansion franchise’s second-ever first-round pick. Rice produced at a high level in the NBA from 1989-2004, averaging 18.3 points while shooting 40% from three-point range.
His son was not as fortunate. Glen Rice Jr. averaged a mere 2.7 points while playing just 16 games over two seasons with the Washington Wizards. The Georgia Tech product was out of the league by 2015 after starring at Georgia Tech in college.
9. Juwan Howard and Jett Howard
A member of Michigan’s Fab 4, Juwan Howard’s NBA career spanned three different decades. He was the fifth overall pick of the then Washington Bullets in the 1994 NBA Draft. Howard’s career did not end until he hung up the shoes following the 2012-13 season with the Miami Heat. The forward averaged 17.8 points and 7.4 rebounds during his first decade in the league.
Having played for his father at Michigan, Jett Howard was the No. 11 overall pick of the Orlando Magic in the 2023 NBA Draft. While their tenure with the Wolverines was drama-filled, they are close. Unfortunately, Howard has done nothing of substance as a rookie (1.6 PPG).
8. John Stockton and David Stockton
At the time that John Stockton starred at Gonzaga, it was a little-known program in the Pacific Northwest. Despite this, the Utah Jazz made him a first-round pick in the 1984 NBA Draft. The rest is pretty much history. Joining forces with Karl Malone, he led Utah to 19 consecutive NBA Playoff appearances. Stockton finished his career as the all-time NBA assist leader. It’s a record that still stands. Unfortunately, both of his NBA Finals appearances ended in losses to Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.
David Stockton followed in his father’s footsteps, starring in Gonzaga. Unfortunately, he just did not have the same basketball talent. The Younger Stockton played a total of six games over two seasons with the Sacramento Kings and Jazz. He averaged 3.0 points per game.
7. Mike Dunleavy and Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Mike Dunleavy might be better known to modern NBA fans as a head coach and front office head. But he did star in the NBA from 1976-1985 and again from 1988-1990. He retired for three seasons due to chronic back pain. As a point guard, Dunleavy averaged 8.0 points and 3.9 assists in stops with four different teams.
As for his son, Dunleavy Jr. was a much more-heralded basketball player. He starred at Duke under the legendary Mike Krzyzewski, winning the national title in 2001. This helped the forward become the No. 3 overall pick of the Golden State Warriors in the 2002 NBA Draft. He didn’t live up to expectations, averaging 11.2 points despite playing 15 seasons.
6. Gary Payton and Gary Payton II
Known as “The Glove,” Gary Payton was one of the best pure basketball players in the NBA during his prime with the Seattle Sonics. He teamed up with Shawn Kemp to form a dynamic tandem in the Pacific Northwest. One of the best defenders in Association history, Payton finished his career with nine All-Star appearances, nine All-NBA honors and as a nine-time All-NBA Defensive Team performer.
Sure, Gary Payton II hasn’t had the same career as his father. But he continues to be an important cog for the Golden State Warriors off the bench. That includes performing at a high level on defense. He played a major role in the Warriors’ 2022 NBA title run.
5. Tim Hardaway and Tim Hardaway Jr.
People seem to overlook how fun the “Run TMC” Warriors of the late 1980s and early 1990s were. Teaming up with Chris Mullen under Hall of Fame coach Don Nelson, Hardaway led the group as a court general. His five-plus year run in Oakland saw Hardaway average 19.6 points and 9.3 assists per game. He’d go on to have a great post-Warriors career, too. That included starring for the Miami Heat from 1995-2001.
Hardaway Jr. was not as heralded coming out of Michigan in 2013. But the wing has turned in a stellar career thus far. Since joining the Dallas Mavericks midway through the 2018-19 season, he’s averaging 15.7 points while hitting on 37% of his three-point attempts. He’s a key cog for the current iteration of the Mavs.
4. Patrick Ewing and Patrick Ewing Jr.
Patrick Ewing is the greatest player in New York Knicks basketball history. While that’s debatable, the Georgetown product’s dominance during a 15-year run in the Big Apple is a thing of fact. He won Rookie of the Year after they made him the No. 1 pick in the 1985 draft and didn’t look back. Ewing finished his career in New York averaging 22.8 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He made 11 All-Star teams and was a seven-time All-NBA performer.
In a sign that the apple can fall far from the tree, Ewing Jr. played just seven games in the NBA after being a second-round pick in the 2008 draft. He averaged 0.4 points in seven games with the then-New Orleans Hornets in 2010-11.
3. Rick Brunson and Jalen Brunson
What Jalen Brunson has done to turn around the fortune of the New York Knicks has largely clouded Rick Brunson’s solid career. The Temple product suited up in the Association from 1997-2006. While he averaged just 3.2 points per game, Brunson was seen as a solid defensive force.
As for his son, Brunson’s has morphed into a legitimate MVP candidate after the Dallas Mavericks made him a second-round pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Since the start of the 2022-23 season with the Knicks, Brunson is averaging 26.1 points and 6.4 assists on 40% shooting from distance. That’s some elite-level stuff.
Related: 20 worst NBA players of all-time
2. Rick Berry and Brent Berry
Before the dynastic iteration of the Golden State Warriors, the 1970s version won the title. In fact, Rick Barry earned NBA Finals MVP in Golden State’s win over the Washington Bullets to conclude the 1975 season. He finished his career as a 12-time All-Star and six-time All-NBA performer. Barry was also named to the NBA 75th Anniversary after finishing his career with an average of 24.8 points per game.
Brent Barry was highly touted coming out of Oregon State in the 1995 NBA Draft. He ultimately landed with the Los Angeles Clippers in a draft day trade. Despite playing 14 seasons in the Association, he never really lived up to expectations. Barry averaged 9.3 points on 41% shooting from distance throughout his career.
1. Stephen Curry and Dell Curry
People seem to forget what Dell Curry did as a player. That’s primarily because of the transcendent figure his son became in the NBA. But we’re talking about a 16-year veteran who finished in the top-five of the Sixth Man of the Year voting. From 1992-97 with the Charlotte Hornets, Curry averaged 15.0 points while shooting 41% from three-point range. He ended his career as the Hornets’ all-time leading scorer while nailing 40% of his shots from beyond the arc.
What is there to say about the younger Curry? He’s a four-time NBA champion and two-time league MVP. Curry is also a 10-time All-Star and nine-time All-NBA performer. He holds the record for the most three-pointers made in league history. Five of the top-six marks for single-season three-pointers belong to Curry, including the top mark. Heck, he’s on pace to his the second most this season. Curry simply changed basketball.