The 20 greatest NBA father-son duos

Rick Barry is a Hall of Famer who was an eight-time All-Star, won an NBA title with Golden State (1975), and has been lauded as one of the game's elite defenders during a career that spanned 1965-'80. As it turns out, five of Barry's sons played professional basketball, but Brent was the most successful in the NBA. Brent Barry played 14 NBA seasons (1996-2009), averaging 9.3 points and winning championships with San Antonio (2005, '07).

Henry Bibby was a standout guard for John Wooden at UCLA, where he won three national titles with the Bruins. Then he enjoyed nine seasons in the NBA, during which he also won a championship -- as a member of the 1973 New York Knicks. Led by his dad, Mike Bibby also won an NCAA championship, but at Arizona in 1997. From there, Mike enjoyed a solid 14-season NBA career, notably with the Sacramento Kings, averaging 14.7 points and 5.5 assists.

Jalen Brunson might be one of the NBA's current superstars, but his father, Rick, wasn't too shabby during his nine-season career (1998-2006). A key reserve and energy guy off the bench, Brunson played for eight different teams, including the New York Knicks, with whom his son has become quite the legend, and he's served as an assistant coach. Jalen just made his third NBA All-Star team in 2025-26 and found his place during his four seasons in New York (averaging 26.3 points on 46-percent shooting and 6.8 assists) -- after spending the first four in Dallas. 

There are plenty of NBA fans who never heard of Joe "Jellybean" Bryant until his son Kobe came into the league and became one of the game's all-time best. Joe was a role player for most of his eight NBA seasons (1976-'83), half of which were spent with Philadelphia. He then averaged double-figure points in each of his final three campaigns -- with the San Diego Clippers and Houston. Kobe, of course, is an NBA Mount Rushmore candidate, five-time league champion, 2008 MVP and an 18-time All-Star, who scored more than 33,000 points during his legendary 20-year career.

Had we ranked these duos, the Currys (1987-2002) would have a good shot at taking the top spot. Father Dell spent 16 seasons in the NBA, scoring more than 12,600 points and shooting 40.2 percent from the 3-point range, and ended his career as the Charlotte Hornets' all-time leading scorer. However, son Steph will go down as one of the greatest players in league history. As the 2025-26 season concluded, Stephen Curry won four titles with Golden State, two NBA MVPs (2015, '16), and was a 12-time All-Star. All while averaging 24.8 points and shooting 47.1 percent since breaking into the league in 2009. Also noteworthy, Dell's son and Steph's brother, Seth, has played parts of 12 seasons (2013-'17; 2019-'26) in the NBA. 

Here's a case where a father-son pair did not feature at least one star, but noteworthy nonetheless in the NBA world. Mike Sr. played in the league from 1977-'90, recording nearly 3,500 points, almost 700 rebounds and better than 1,700 assists. However, he's probably best known for his coaching tenure, serving as head coach of the Lakers, Bucks, Trail Blazers and Clippers. Mike Jr. also enjoyed a lengthy NBA career (2003-'17), averaging 11.2 points and 4.3 assists, while shooting 37.7 percent from 3-point range, for six different teams.

Another case where the son has enjoyed more NBA success than his old man. However, Winston Garland was no slouch during a seven-season NBA career, which began in 1987. Three times Winston averaged double-figure points for a season -- twice with Golden State and again for Denver. Darius, on the other hand, was the fifth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft and was named to two All-Star teams (2022, '25) for Cleveland. Following a 2025-26 campaign in which he was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers in February, Garland is averaging 18.9 points and 6.7 assists for his career.

While Harvey's brother and Jerami's uncle, Horace, is considered the most successful of the NBA Grants for his years with the Chicago Bulls and then Orlando, this father-son duo has been more than serviceable. Harvey played 11 NBA seasons (1989-'99), most notably with Washington, and averaged at least 18 points in three straight (1991-'93). Jerami, meanwhile, just finished his 12th NBA season in 2025-26 and has averaged 17.4 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists over his last eight campaigns with Oklahoma City, Denver, Detroit and Portland.

Another Hall of Famer, Tim Hardaway averaged 17.7 points and 8.2 assists during an NBA career that spanned 1990-2003. A five-time All-Star, Hardaway remains one of the league's great ball-handlers. Tim Jr., though, is a more versatile performer than his iconic father, having broken into the league in 2013-14 with the New York Knicks. Though never an All-Star, Tim Jr. has enjoyed a solid pro career, averaging 13.7 points over more than 890 games.

OK, we're basing this one on potential. Ron Harper played 15 seasons in the NBA (1987-2001) and won five titles (three with the Chicago Bulls and two with the Lakers). As dependable as they come, Harper scored more than 13,900 points for his career, while recording 4,309 rebounds, 3,916 assists and 1,716 steals. Dylan, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong rookie campaign after being selected second overall by San Antonio in the 2025 NBA draft. He averaged 11.8 points in 69 regular-season contests and continued to help the Spurs reach the NBA Finals. Also, Ron Harper Jr. has played 40 regular-season games over his four NBA seasons (2023-'26).

From a historical standpoint, it's certainly worth including LeBron and Bronny on this list. They are far from a great pair, but they are the first father-son combo to take the court together as teammates in an NBA game. Plus, LeBron's 43,440 career points, since he debuted in 2003, coupled with Bronny's 184 in two seasons as dad's teammate with the Lakers, make them the all-time leading father-son duo in NBA history. Take that for what you will.

Larry Nance enjoyed a stellar NBA career (1982-'94), while starring for both Phoenix and Cleveland. He was a three-time All-Star, a member of the NBA All-Defensive First Team, and won the 1984 Slam Dunk contest. Now, Larry Jr. has yet to win the dunk contest or make an All-Star team, but he's been a serviceable performer since debuting in the league in 2015-16 with the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Gary Payton, aka "The Glove, is a Hall of Famer known for his elite guarding prowess that resulted in nine appearances on the NBA All-Defensive First Team squad. But he also averaged 16.3 points and 6.7 assists over a 17-season career (1991-2007). Though best remembered for his time in Seattle, Payton finally won an NBA title with Miami in 2006. Gary II, meanwhile, was a college and G League standout, and after making his NBA debut in 2016-17 with Milwaukee, has been a staple in the league since 2021-22 -- the same season he won a title as a member of the Golden State Warriors.

Another father-son pair to make NBA history. In January 2015, son Austin was a member of dad Doc's coached Los Angeles Clippers squad, making him the first player in league history to be coached by his father. Doc was an NBA All-Star during his 13-season NBA career (1984-'96) and guided the Boston Celtics to the 2008 title as coach. Austin played 11 seasons in the NBA (2013-'23) for seven different franchises, enjoying his most notable success with the Clippers in 2016-17 and 2017-18, averaging in double figures in each campaign.

By the time Arvydas Sabonis landed in the NBA in 1995, he was a 30-year-old, established international star for the Soviet Union, Lithuania and Spain. Still, the 7-foot-3 Sabonis averaged 12.0 points and 7.3 rebounds in seven NBA seasons -- all spent with Portland. Son Domantas starred at Gonzaga and earned three All-Star nods while averaging more than 16.0 points and nearly 11.0 rebounds during an NBA career that hit its peak in 2025-26.

Dolph was one of the NBA's first superstars, earning 12 All-Star nods and winning the 1953 title with the Syracuse Nationals during his Hall-of-Fame, 15-year career (1950-'64). In just under 1,000 regular-season games, Dolph averaged 18.5 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. The 6-foot-11 Danny Schayes did not nearly the same success as his dad, but played 18 seasons in the league (1982-'99), with five different clubs. Danny totaled more than 8,700 points, a little less than 1,300 rebounds, and exactly 840 blocks for his career.

NBA fans often forget that Stephen Curry wasn't the only Warriors star with a famous basketball father. Klay, also a four-time NBA champ and five-time All-Star (2015-'19) with Golden State before moving to Dallas in 2024, is the son of Mychal Thompson. The former University of Minnesota star played 12 seasons (1979-'91) in the NBA, was a member of the All-Rookie team with Portland in 1979 and won two titles (1986, '87) as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Though far from flashy, Ernie Vandeweghe was a solid contributor for a good chunk of his six seasons as a member of the New York Knicks (1950-'54; 1955-56). Twice he averaged in double digits and pulled down 4.3 rebounds for his career. Kiki, however, was a bona fide NBA star. He averaged 19.7 points and shot 52.5 percent during his 13-season NBA career (1981-'93), which featured a pair of All-Star selections for the Denver Nuggets (1983, '84).

Though the two never had a relationship, their basketball lineage is worth noting. Walker spent nine seasons in the NBA (1968-'76) and was an All-Star for the Detroit Pistons in 1970 and '72. Rose, whose father left his mother before he was born, was a Detroit city legend who starred for Michigan's famed "Fab Five" and spent 13 seasons in the NBA (1995-'07). Rose scored more than 13,000 points and recorded over 3,100 rebounds and 3,500 assists in the league before going on to enjoy more success as a basketball analyst. 

Basketball fans of any age should know about the eccentric Bill Walton, a legend at UCLA who was a two-time All-Star and averaged 13.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.2 blocks during a 10-season NBA career. He helped Portland win the 1977 NBA title and Boston win the crown in '86. Luke, meanwhile, was a dependable, hard-working performer during his own 10-year NBA run. Like his dad, Luke also won two NBA titles -- with the Lakers in 2009 and '10.