Ranking top 7 father-son duos in the NBA, feat LeBron James and Bronny

The LA Lakers drafted Bronny James on Thursday, making him and LeBron James as the only father-son duo to be players in the NBA at the same time. There’s a lot of firsts that the James family achieved but they are definitely not the only father-son duo to play in the NBA.

Here, we take a look at the top seven father-son duos to ever play in the NBA.

Top 7 father-son duos in the NBA

#7. LeBron James and Bronny James

They might be the trending names when it comes to father-son duos in the NBA but Bronny is some way from proving himself on the big stage. They make this list just because of LeBron James’ greatness.

LeBron is a four-time champion, four-time MVP and four-time Finals MVP. He is also a 20-time All-Star and leads the league in scoring.

#6. Joe Bryant and Kobe Bryant

Another duo who made the list because of the greatness of one player. In this case, it’s the son. Kobe Bryant, who spent 20 seasons with the LA Lakers, was a five-time champion and an 18-time All-Star. He was also a part of the last three-peat. His father, Joe Bryant, played eight seasons in the NBA before spending time overseas in Italy and France.

#5. Rick Barry and Brent Barry

Rick Barry and Brent Barry are the first entry in our list where both won titles. Rick was a 12-time All-Star and played in both the NBA and ABA. He was a one-time champion with the Golden State Warriors in 1974-75.

Brent Barry won two championships with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005 and 2007. He never made an All-Star or All-NBA team but was a solid role player who averaged 9.3 points and 3.2 assists in his career.

#4. Gary Payton and Gary Payton II

Gary Payton and Gary Payton II (Imagn)

Gary Payton carved out a 17-year NBA career with his defense, which won him the Defensive Player of the Year award in 1995-96. He won a title with the Miami Heat in 2006. He made it to nine All-Star and All-NBA teams.

Gary Payton II isn’t the player that his father was but he did play an important role in the Golden State Warriors’ title run in 2022.

#3. Dell Curry and Steph Curry

Dell Curry and Steph Curry

Dell Curry was one of the pioneers of the 3-point shooting revolution in the NBA. He played 16 seasons and was named the Sixth Man of the Year in 1993-94. He is the Charlotte Hornets leader for most games and 2-pointers made. While both of his sons, Steph and Seth, play in the NBA, we are going to talk about his elder son in this list.

The revolution that was started by his father was taken to the next level by the Warriors’ Steph Curry. Steph is by far the best 3-point shooter the game has ever seen and leads the regular season and playoffs for made 3s. If that isn’t enough, he is a four-time champion, two-time MVP and one-time Finals MVP. He has made it to 10 All-Star and All-NBA teams as well.

#2. Mychal Thompson and Klay Thompson

From one Splash Brother to the other, Klay Thompson features on this list with his father, Mychal Thompson. Mychal holds the record for being the first foreign-born player to be drafted first in 1978 (Portland Trail Blazers). He won two straight titles with the Lakers in 1988 and 1989.

Klay, meanwhile, has spent his entire career at Golden State so far, but that run is reportedly coming to an end. He has won four titles so far and is top 10 in 3s made. He is also a five-time All-Star.

#1. Bill Walton and Luke Walton

Bill Walton and Luke Walton (Imagn)

The NBA lost Bill Walton earlier this year, but he left a lasting legacy on the game. He won two titles; the first with the Blazers in 1977 and then with the Boston Celtics in 1986. He averaged 13.3 points and 10.5 rebounds in 10 seasons. He also made two All-Star teams.

Bill’s son, Luke, played 10 seasons in the NBA. He won back-to-back titles with the Lakers in 2009 and 2010.