SecondGeneration Ballers: NBA Stars Whose Parents Also Played Pro Basketball Stephanie SengweWed, June 10, 2026 at 10:15 PM UTC 0 Dylan Harper, Jalen Brunson, Steph CurryCredit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty; Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty; Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty When you&x27;re the child of a pro athlete, expectations for your athleticism are high. Some take a completely different path from their parents, while others follow right in their sneakered footsteps — and in some cases, even outshoot their pro parent.
Second-Generation Ballers: NBA Stars Whose Parents Also Played Pro Basketball
Stephanie SengweWed, June 10, 2026 at 10:15 PM UTC
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Dylan Harper, Jalen Brunson, Steph CurryCredit: Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty; Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty; Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty
When you're the child of a pro athlete, expectations for your athleticism are high. Some take a completely different path from their parents, while others follow right in their sneakered footsteps — and in some cases, even outshoot their pro parent.
Jalen Brunson and Dylan Harper are the latest NBA stars whose dads played pro ball, and they're going head-to-head for the 2026 championship finals. They can compare notes with other basketball stars including Steph Curry, Klay Thompson,Devin Booker and more, who have fielded comparisons to their superstar fathers.
Ahead, see the second-generation NBA stars whose parents were also players.
01 of 12
Rick Brunson: Jalen Brunson
Rick Brunson; Jalen BrunsonCredit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty (2)
Jalen Brunson has had fans buzzing this year as the point guard leading the Knicks to their first NBA Finals since 1999. He's the second Brunson to wear orange and blue.
Dad Rick spent nine seasons in the NBA. Despite going undrafted in the 1995 draft, he went on to play for eight teams, including the Portland Trailblazers, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics and more throughout his career. He played for the Knicks from 1999 to 2000 and now serves as an assistant coach for the team.
"I'm a father first. At the end of the day I think [it's all about] the respect he has for me and the respect I have for him, but I'm always gonna be his father," Rick told ABC News' Will Reeve of their working relationship.
"When you're a coach, when you're coaching him, you gotta understand how he is and what he's going through emotionally or mentally if he's struggling or playing well. For me, I gotta pick my spots on when to coach him and when to just be quiet. Sometimes it's hard. Sometimes he tells me to shut up, but we get through it."
02 of 12
Ron Harper Sr: Ron Harper Jr. and Dylan Harper
Ron Harper Sr., Dylan HarperCredit: Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty; Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty
Facing off against Brunson and the Knicks in this year's finals is exceptional Spurs rookie Dylan Harper, the son of former guard Ron Harper Sr.
The elder Harper played professionally for 15 years. He was drafted to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1986 and moved to the L.A. Clippers, then the Bulls (with whom he won three championships) and then ended his career as an L.A. Laker in 2001, after snagging two more championship with them.
In a post-game interview following their Western Conference Championship win, Dylan was asked what his father, who was in attendance, said to him. "He congratulated me and then he talks about what he did, so he kind of just leaves it at that," Dylan revealed. "He just told me to be confident in myself and [that] there's a reason why I'm here and just, the job's not done. The job's not finished. He kind of preached that to me this whole playoffs."
Dylan has also had to face off against big brother Ron Harper Sr. who currently plays for the Boston Celtics and has proudly cheered him on in the playoffs.
Related: 8 Sets of Brothers in the NBA, from the Currys to the Harpers
03 of 12
Dell Curry: Steph Curry
Dell Curry, Steph CurryCredit: Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty; Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty
Four-time NBA champ Steph Curry is lauded for his sharp three-pointers, but long before he became a franchise player for the Golden State Warriors, his dad Dell Curry was a the mainstay for the Charlotte Hornets. Though Dell exited his 16-year career without a ring, he snagged a Sixth Man of the Year award in 1994 and when he retired in 2002, he was the all-time leading scorer in Hornets history, and also the team's all-time leader in three-point field goals. And despite some distance from his pro days, he proved he hasn't lost any of his prowess, nailing a casual half-court shot during one of his son Steph's Warriors games in 2017.
Dell's son Seth is also in the league and has played for several teams including the Hornets, Dallas Mavericks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers; he is now with the Warriors.
04 of 12
Mychal Thompson: Klay Thompson
Mychal Thompson; Klay ThompsonCredit: Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty; Ron Jenkins/Getty
Steph Curry's former teammate Klay Thompson also comes from an NBA family. His father Mychal was in the league from 1978 to 1992. He played his first eight years with the Portland Trail Blazers and transferred to the San Antonio Spurs, before he landed at the L.A. Lakers in 1987. Mychal was a key player in helping his team secure back-to-back championships as the Lakers won in '87 and '88; Thompson would perform similarly decades later.
"I'm grateful to have a father who had a great career, who brought me around the game my whole childhood. I learned to respect the game and respect the greats who came before us," Klay stated in part, during a post-match interview after surpassing Reggie Miller to become No. 5 on the NBA's all-time 3-pointers made list.
05 of 12
Jaren Jackson: Jaren Jackson Jr.
Jaren Jackson, Jaren Jackson Jr.Credit: Fernando Medina/NBAE/Getty; Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty
At 6-ft.-10-in. it's no surprise that Jaren Jackson Jr. is an expert shot-blocker. However, what makes him a compelling foward-center is also his keen ability to shoot from anywhere on the court, a skill he surely inherited from his father, who was a famous shooting guard in his hey day.
Jaren Jackson Sr. was in the league for 13 years and played for several teams including the then-New Jersey Nets, Houston Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers as well as the San Antonio Spurs. He was a key player in helping the latter secure their 1999 championship win against the Knicks.
06 of 12
Melvin Booker: Devin Booker
Credit: Bernstein Associates/Getty; Jeff Bottari/NBAE/Getty
Kendall Jenner's former beau (currently a guard for the Phoenix Suns) also has an athletic pedigree: Devin Booker's father, Melvin had a short stint in the NBA back in the late '90s. His entire career spanned only 32 games between 1995 and 1997, and he played for three teams: the Houston Rockets, Denver Nuggets and Golden State Warriors.
Though Melvin's career in the NBA was short-lived, it was enough to intrigue a young Devin. The athlete made the decision to go pro when he was around 13 years old and after seeing his "love and passion" for the sport, Melvin dedicated his time to mentoring Devin, he told ESPN.
There were some doubts at first, but once Melvin saw his son play in the summer AAU circuits in high school, he quickly realized Devin was a force. "Devin was having success against the likes of Julius Randle, Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Gordon, Jahlil Okafor and Jabari Parker — all of whom went on to NBA careers," ESPN reported at the time. Melvin stepped up and became Devin's coach and mentor, teaching him how to play like the pros, how to properly train and how to eat right.
The work paid off, as Devin was the No. 13 overall pick in the 2015 NBA draft. He won the 2018 JBL Three-Point Contest during All-Star Weekend and in 2020, he attended All-Star Weekend as an All-Star player himself.
07 of 12
Mitchell Wiggins: Andrew Wiggins
Mitchell Wiggins; Andrew WigginsCredit: Bill Baptist/NBAE via Getty; Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty
Though Mitchell Wiggins only played six seasons in the NBA, his son Andrew Wiggins picked up where he left off. A versatile player, Andrew was selected first overall in the 2014 NBA draft and has played for teams such as the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Golden State Warriors (with whom he won a championship in 2022), and is currently with the Miami Heat.
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08 of 12
LeBron James: LeBron 'Bronny' James Jr.
Lebron James and Bronny JamesCredit: G Fiume/Getty; Christian Petersen/Getty
With a four-time NBA championship winner and three-time Olympic medalist for a father, it would've been surprising if Bronny James didn't follow in dad LeBron James' footsteps.
In high school, Bronny led his Sierra Canyon School to a win against his dad's alma mater, St. Vincent-St. Mary High School, back in 2019. In July 2021, Bronny was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated at the tender age of 16 — one-upping his superstar dad, who made his SI debut at 17 years old.
As though that wasn't enough, Bronny was also one of five rising stars to sign an NIL (name, image and likeness) deal with Nike in October 2022. Details of the deal were kept under wraps, but ESPN reported that "Nike plans to partner with each student-athlete on a variety of community efforts in their hometowns."
For his part, the elder James has always been supportive of his son's love for the game, always expressing a desire to play with his son professionally. "Bronny is number one on my list," the basketball legend stated on an episode of The Shop. (As to whether his offspring could beat him? That was a hard "no.")
On May 7, 2023, Bronny announced via Instagram that he would be playing college basketball at the University of Southern California. On Oct. 22, 2024, he made his dad's dream come true, making his regular-season debut as a Laker after having been drafted by the team that summer — and making history as the first father-son duo to play in the same game.
09 of 12
Shaquille O'Neal: Shareef O'Neal
Credit: Chris Covatta/NBAE/Getty; Garrett Ellwood/NBAE/Getty
Unlike most NBA dads, Shaquille O'Neal was not so keen on letting his son join the big league — but with good reason. Shareef O'Neal had seen a string of health issues, the most severe of which required him to undergo major heart surgery during his freshman year at UCLA. Naturally, his protective dad preferred he pace himself a bit before joining the pros.
Shareef didn't feel the same way. "He wanted me to stay in school," the second-gen star told ESPN of his dad during a pre-draft workout with the Lakers. "He knows I'm working out with teams. But I'm not going to lie, we ain't talked about this. I'm kind of just going through it."
And because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree, Shareef's tenacity ultimately paid off: he was drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers on a two-way contract in June 2022 and played for the purple and gold during the Summer League.
The star then moved onto the G League Ignite for the 2022-2023 season. He signed with the Stockton Kings in 2024, but was ultimately waived. He decided to walk away from the game following a minor procedure that year.
"I always told myself, if I have to get another surgery after my heart surgery, I'd be done," he told Angel Reese on her podcast. "I had to get a double knee surgery. So I stopped. ... I was like, let me just chill. So now I just play for fun."
10 of 12
Scottie Pippen Sr.: Scotty Pippen Jr.
Credit: Scott Cunningham/NBAE/Getty; Barry Gossage/NBAE/Getty
We know Scottie Pippen Sr. as one of the key players in making the Chicago Bulls a household name back in the '90s, and that legacy is helping support his son's career.
A Sierra Canyon School graduate, Scotty joined the Los Angeles Lakers as an undrafted free agent on a two-way contract after playing for Vanderbilt University for three years. He has taken advice from Lakers teammates such as LeBron James and Russell Westbrook as to how best to acknowledge his dad's legacy while playing his own game.
"[LeBron] told me that I've been around the game even if I don't feel like I have, that my dad's put me through this and that," he told PEOPLE. "You have an advantage over these guys, so at the end of the day just focus on basketball ... at the end of the day, you're the only one on the court, so make sure you find something that brings you peace.'"
As for the advice Pippen Sr. has imparted? "I tried to talk him through it his whole life, just teaching him the game and making him feel like that's the path you're on," the six-time NBA champion told PEOPLE. "You just teach him and hope for the blessing of God and a little luck and things falling in your way, but it's about preparing him for it and hoping and praying it happens."
Scotty Jr. is currently a guard for the Memphis Grizzlies.
11 of 12
Kenyon Martin Sr.: Kenyon 'KJ' Martin Jr.
Credit: Getty; Glenn James/NBAE/Getty
Like his powerhouse dad (the first draft pick in 2000 and 2004 All-Star, who played 15 seasons as a power forward for teams including the Knicks and Nets), Kenyon Martin Jr. — more commonly referred to as KJ — made quite the impression after being drafted in 2020. As small forward for the Houston Rockets, KJ became a fan favorite due to his dynamic presence on the court.
Kenyon Sr., for his part, wanted KJ to shoot for a bigger pond. While talking to SiriusXM NBA Radio, the Hall of Famer voiced some of his concerns about his son playing for the Rockets, stating, "I just want a better situation for him, as far as winning. Houston is Houston. The way it's looking now ... they're going to have another lottery pick and be even younger."
While he acknowledged Houston was the best place for his son to get his feet wet and earn some stripes, in the long term, the NBA veteran prefered KJ go to a more developed team. "I would love for him to be in a situation where people approach every situation like that, and help their young guys get better. We'll see what's next," he concluded.
KJ played five seasons in the NBA before heading off to the Chinese Basketball Association, where he's a forward for the Ningbo Rockets.
12 of 12
Arvydas Sabonis: Domantas Sabonis
Credit: Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty; William Mancebo/Getty
Arvydas Sabonis is considered of the greatest European basketball players of all time. With a career that spanned 15 seasons, Arvydas was a two-time European Player of the Year, Olympic gold medalist, six-time Euroscar Player of the Year, four-time Lithuanian Sportsman of the Year and a three-time USSR League Champion.
A decade into his career, he was drafted from Lithuania to the Portland Blazers where he became a major player despite not being at his peak.
Years later, Domantas (or Domas as his family calls him), a 6-ft.-11-in. power forward, was sought out by Gonzaga University coaches while playing in Spain. By age 20, he was the No. 11 overall draft pick, chosen by the Orlando Magic in 2016 (though traded that night to the Oklahoma City Thunder).
Domantas is a two-time NBA All-Star, having made the prestigious All-Star team in 2020 and 2021.
Asked about similarities to his legendary dad, Domantas told NBA.com, "I personally don't see comparisons. But my family and my dad's friends, they grew up watching my dad play, they say they see so many similarities it's crazy."
He currently plays for the Sacramento Kings.
on People
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Source: Entertainment
Published: June 11, 2026 at 02:09AM on Source: MANUEL MAG
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