LeBron and Bronny James are on the verge of creating a monumental chapter in NBA history. With the Los Angeles Lakers selecting LeBron’s eldest son, Bronny, as the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, the father-son duo is set to possibly play together in the upcoming season. This scenario would mark the first instance of a father and son sharing the court as teammates in the NBA, an achievement unmatched in the league’s history.
A Tradition of Family Legacies in Sports
While a father-son duo playing together is unprecedented in the NBA, the world of sports offers several noteworthy examples of father-son partnerships across different leagues. In the realm of football, Ted and Charlie Nesser hold the distinction of being the only father-son pair to have played on the same team in the NFL. The Nessers played for the Columbus Panhandles against the Akron World's Champions on September 25, 1921. Their team, the Columbus Panhandles, saw a transformation over time, eventually being rebranded as the Columbus Tigers until their disbandment in 1926. Adding to the football family legacy, the Nesser clan boasted six brothers – John, Paul, Phil, Ted, Frank, and Al – who all played for the Panhandles at various periods in the early 20th century.
Transitioning to hockey, the iconic Gordie Howe took to the ice alongside his sons Mark and Marty for the NHL’s Hartford Whalers during the 1979-80 season. The Howe family story began with Gordie’s return to professional hockey to play in the World Hockey Association’s Houston Aeros in 1973, where he was joined by Mark and Marty. Notably, Mark Howe mirrored his father’s achievement by scoring his first professional goal exactly 27 years after Gordie scored his first with the Detroit Red Wings. In the 1979-80 NHL season, Gordie Howe contributed 15 goals and 26 assists, proving that age was just a number for the seasoned athlete.
Baseball’s Father-Son Duos
In baseball, the Griffeys and the Raineses have carved significant familial footprints. Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. shared the outfield for the Seattle Mariners from 1990 to 1991, making headlines when they hit back-to-back home runs on September 14, 1990. During the 1990 season, Ken Griffey Jr. had an impressive record, scoring 91 runs, hitting 22 homers, and achieving a .300 batting average. Similarly, Tim Raines Sr. and Tim Raines Jr. played together in the latter part of the 2001 season for the Baltimore Orioles. On October 4, 2001, Tim Sr. played in left field while Tim Jr. covered center field, highlighting the unique bond of playing professional baseball together.
Joining the NBA’s Esteemed Father-Son Legacy
LeBron and Bronny James are primed to join an exclusive list of father-son duos who have both been selected in the NBA Draft. This elite circle includes pairs like Greg and Cole Anthony, Mychal and Klay Thompson, Bill and Luke Walton, and the family trio of Dell, Steph, and Seth Curry. The impending possibility of LeBron and Bronny playing on the same team brings an added layer of excitement and anticipation for NBA fans around the globe. With LeBron's storied career and Bronny's up-and-coming potential, their shared moments on the court could herald a new era of basketball history.
Arguably, the allure of a father and son collaborating in professional sports extends beyond their gameplay. It encompasses the narratives of legacy, mentorship, and the intimate threads of familial bonds that resonate with audiences. As the NBA season approaches, the world watches in eager anticipation of whether the James duo will etch their names together in the annals of sports history.