20 famous children who became star athletes like their parents

We all saw LeBron and Bronny James make NBA history in October 2024. After the draft, Bronny told the Desert Sun how excited he was about working alongside his father. 

"I'm most looking forward to practice. Going head-to-head with each other. That's such a crazy feeling to be in practice with your dad. Competing at a high level. But on the other side of that, having to go against LeBron James is kind of a lot in practice every day."

Kiyan Anthony has much respect for his dad, NBA legend Carmelo Anthony, but according to him, he wants to create his own legacy. "I'm my own player, and I’m trying to do bigger things when it comes to basketball," he told Interview Magazine.

Romeo Beckham retired from football in 2024 to focus on being a style icon. His father, David, was both, right?

You don't have to guess who Scotty Pippen Jr comes from. Recently, he told ESPN how much of a "dream" it was to play in the same league and gyms as his father, Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen.

"It means everything to me and my family. I talked to my dad tonight about coming in here and playing. He just told me to go out there and kill it, so that's what I tried to do."

Shareef O’Neal really did follow his father, Shaq's, footsteps. The young hooper went to college at LSU before deciding to enter the NBA draft in 2022. He spoke previously about how that decision impacted their relationship; however, today, they're doing just fine. "That's my best friend and also my dad. I love him," Shareef said. 

This one needs no explanation. Peyton Manning became an NFL superstar, just like his Pro Bowl champion father, Archie.

Laila Ali is one of the greatest female boxers of all time, but when your dad is Muhammad Ali, can you really expect anything less from her?

Dell Curry played 16 seasons in the NBA and even won the league's prestigious Sixth Man Award in 1994. His son, Steph, has been one of the league's faces since joining in 2009. He's won four championships with the Golden State Warriors and one Olympic gold medal with Team USA in 2024.

We're always talking about Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado quarterback is the son of Deion Sanders, a Hall Of Fame NFL icon who knows how to get people talking. In an interview with NBC, the younger Sanders said he's modeling his playing career after his pops. 

"Being his son, and him being there for me, to be able to ask any question to him. He did everything I want to do. But I always play with him like I'm going to do it better. But he did everything I want to do, so it's a blessing to have a man like him in my corner."

The walking triple-double is just like his father, Arvydas. The latter played several seasons for the Portland Trail Blazers, scoring over 5,000 points and snagging nearly 4,000 rebounds.

Like father like son ... like brother.

Christian McCaffrey, the touchdown king, has spoken about how thankful he is to have grown up under his father, Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey's leadership. "It was such a blessing," Christian said. "To have him as a resource, just as a player. Being able to learn so many intricacies of the game at such a young age, but also to learn how to do it.

Zay Jones is the son of former NFL player Robert Jones. The latter spent 10 years in the league while his son, a wide receiver, joined in 2017 and currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals.

Like his dad, Dwyane Wade, Zaire Wade is a star basketball player. He currently plays in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) and is always willing to take advice from the three-time NBA champ. In fact, Dwayne told People in 2020 that he's always willing to help his son navigate the chaotic world of athletics. 

"[I’m] just trying to help him navigate through expectations that the world has put on him and that he puts on himself because of his last name.”

Cha'iel has super quick feet, and it's likely she acquired that talent from her NFL father, Chad Johnson. 

DJ Rodman (son of Dennis Rodman) has admittedly watched hours of his father's highlights, and he wants to implement some of his swagger into his own game. “He didn’t have a problem guarding the best guy,” Rodman Jr. said about his father's on-court attitude. “I plan on having that same mentality when it comes to being a player on the court."

Like her brother DJ, Trinity inherited her father's athletic ability. However, her sport of choice is soccer. In fact, she's a baller in the NWSL and, in 2022, became one of the highest-paid stars in the league's history.

With that last name, it only makes sense that Charlie would be a beast at golf.

Devin Booker learned all of his basketball skills from his father, Melvin, who also played professionally in the NBA. When speaking about his son's draft night, the former Golden State Warrior said it brought "tears to my eyes." He continued: "It's a feeling like no other. It's a night I will never forget."

Jalen Brunson has always spoken positively about his father, Rick, who joined the NBA in 1997. 

“He helped me work on my game since I told him I wanted to become a professional basketball player,” Jalen said. “Whether I was p—d off, happy, whatever, he always asked me before and after every workout, ‘Is this what you want to do for a living?’ And the answer was always, ‘Yes.’"