The 12 Most Talented Father-Son Duos In NBA History

LeBron James and Bronny James made history when they became the first father-son duo to play in the same game when they both suited up for the Lakers on Tuesday night, but there are a number of other guys who’ve managed to follow in their dad’s footsteps by making it to the league.

LeBron and Bronny James are already technically the highest-scoring father-son duo in NBA history thanks to the former’s status as the league’s all-time leader, but there are a number of others who deserve a mention.

Some of these numbers are going to end up increasing thanks to sons who are currently in the midst of their NBA careers, but the totals reflect the situation at the start of the 2024-25 season.

Joe and Kobe Bryant

Combined Points: 38,895

Kobe Bryant is obviously pulling most of the weight here thanks to the 33,643 points he put up during his legendary NBA career, but his dad also put in plenty of work during an eight-year run that saw him play for the 76ers, Clippers, and Rockets while scoring 5,252 of his own.

Dell and Steph Curry

Combined Points: 36,338

As was the case with Kobe, Steph Curry more than managed to overshadow his father’s legacy by cementing himself as one of the deadliest long-range shooters of all time en route to racking up the 23,668 points he currently has under his belt.

However, Dell was no slouch during his 16 seasons in the NBA where he notched 12,670.

I’m focusing on father-son duos here, but if we throw the 5,032 points Seth Curry has posted into the mix, there isn’t a single family that’s scored more than the 41,640 they’ve contributed.

Mychal and Klay Thompson

Combined Points: 28,341

Both “Splash Brothers” that helped the Warriors transform into a dynasty were able to outshine their dads in the NBA, as Klay Thompson has put up 15,531 points so far.

However, you could argue he and his father are the most well-rounded father-son duo to ever play in the NBA, as Mychal put up 12,810 during a 13-year career where he spent most of his time with the Trail Blazers and the Lakers.

Dolph and Danny Schayes

Combined Points: 27,218

This is a bit of a deep cut, as you have to be a pretty diehard basketball fan to be intimately familiar with the career of either of these men.

Dolph Schayes kicked off his time in the NBA with the Syracuse Nationals in 1949 and played all but one of his 15 seasons with the squad that eventually became the 76ers during a Hall of Fame career where he scored 18,438 points.

His son Danny wasn’t able to surpass that legacy, but he did spend 18 seasons in the NBA while putting up a respectable 8,780 points.

Rick and Brent Berry

Combined Points: 26,883

Rick and Brent Berry are the fifth-highest-scoring father-son duo with a combined 26,883 points (18,395 and 8,488 respectively), but it’s worth noting three of the former’s offspring made it to the NBA.

Jon posted 4,715 points during his lengthy career and Drew put up 134 during his relatively short one to give the clan a grand total of 31,192.

Tim Hardaway and Tim Hardaway Jr.

Combined Points: 25,680

Mychal and Klay Thompson may be the most evenly-matched players on this list, but this father-son duo is also in the conversation.

Tim Hardaway was a force to be reckoned with during a 15-year career where the five-time All-Star scored 15,373 points. It was a tough act to follow for the son he gave his name to, but his offspring has done pretty well for himself since entering the league in 2013 and scoring 10,307.

Jimmy Walker and Jalen Rose

Combined Points: 24,875

All of the sons on this list reaped the benefits of being able to learn from a dad with the talent to play in the NBA, but Jalen Rose is a very notable exception.

Jimmy Walker was a standout at Providence College and was selected with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft before scoring 11,655 points in the nine seasons he played.

He fathered Jalen Rose when he was playing for the Pistons in the early 1970s but abandoned his mother after learning she was pregnant and never had a role in the life of the Michigan star who outdid him by scoring 13,220 points in his 13 NBA seasons.

The two did end up speaking on the phone a few times before Walker died of lung cancer in 2007, but they never met in person.

Gary Payton and Gary Payton II

Combined Points: 22,894

This is another situation where the dad has the upper hand, but Gary Payton II had his work cut out for him as the son of a legendary point guard who scored 21,813 points—just a few more than the 1,081 his son has recorded.

Stan and Kevin Love

Combined Points: 16,878

Kevin Love’s dad Stan was selected with the ninth overall pick in the 1971 NBA Draft but ultimately only spent a few years in the league while recording 1,579 points.

His son ended up having a bit more success, as the five-time All-Star has racked up 15,299 points and secured a championship with the Cavaliers in 2016.

Mike Dunleavy Sr. and Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Combined Points: 14,544

Mike Dunleavy Sr. is best known for what he achieved as a coach, but he also did pretty well for himself as a player while scoring 3,496 points in 12 seasons.

The son he gave his name to fared even better, as he spent 15 seasons in the league and more than outdid his dad with 11,048 points.

 

Bill and Luke Walton

Combined Points: 8,864

The late, great Bill Walton is widely considered one of the best college basketball players of all time but had his NBA career hampered by injuries that ultimately limited him to 6,215 points.

His son Luke managed to last longer in the league, but he finished his career with a comparatively paltry 2,649 points.

Rick and Jalen Brunson

Things have come full circle for Rick Brunson now that he gets to coach his son as an assistant on the Knicks in the wake of an NBA career where he recorded 1,090 points.

He’d probably be the first person to admit he’s been firmly overshadowed by Jalen on the court, as the guard has racked up 7,153 points and counting.