The Los Angeles Lakers added another unique achievement to their long and glorious history last night as they became the first ever NBA team to have a father and son play together.
LeBron James and son Lebron “Bronny” James Jr. subbed in side-by-side with four minutes remaining in the second quarter.
it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten from the man above”
After the Lakers’ 110-103 victory, in which LeBron scored 16 points, he said: “To be able to have this moment where I’m working still and I can work alongside my son, it’s one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten from the man above, and I’m going to take full advantage of it.”
LeBron James isn’t the only person that the “man above” (by which he presumably didn’t mean head coach JJ Redick) has chosen to bestow the gift upon. Here are five other examples of legendary father and son sporting duos.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.
Perhaps the most legendary of father and son pairings are the Griffeys. As one of the standouts of the “Big Red Machine” era of the Cincinnati Reds that saw them win the World Series in 1975 and 1976, Griffey Sr. was a three-time All Star and was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame.
Griffey Jr. would go on to surpass most of his father’s illustrious achievements
His son, Ken Griffey Jr., made history in 1990 when he played alongside his father for the Seattle Mariners, with the pair achieving the incredible feat of hitting back-to-back home runs. Griffey Jr. would go on to surpass most of his father’s illustrious achievements, landing a spot in the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was a 13-time All-Star and finishing his career with 630 home runs, seventh-most all-time. However, a World Series title would elude him, giving his father some small bragging rights.
Bobby and Brett Hull
The Hulls achieved one of the most unique feats in sports, becoming the first ever father-son duo to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Father Bobby entered in 1983 for an illustrious career which he ended as the second highest goal scorer in NHL history with 610 (he now ranks 18th). He also received the Hart Memorial Trophy twice and the Art Ross Trophy three times.
Son Brett went on to surpass his father’s total with 741 goals, now the fifth most in NHL history. He also picked up Stanley Cups in 1999 with the Dallas Stars and in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings. He was eventually inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009, completing the remarkable achievement for the family.
Archie, Peyton, and Eli Manning
Archie Manning enjoyed a solid career as an NFL quarterback for 13 seasons, making the New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame. However, both of his sons would go on to surpass his achievements, with him fathering not just one, but two number one overall draft picks.
a bona fide legend of the NFL, he was named MVP five times
Peyton Manning was first pick in the 1998 draft and finished his career with the records for both career passings yards with 71,940 and passing touchdowns with 539 (he is now third in both categories). A bona fide legend of the NFL, he was named MVP five times, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.
Meanwhile, brother Eli, another first overall pick in 2004, won two Super Bowl titles with the New York Giants and was named the MVP of both games. He ranks 11th in passing yards in NFL history and will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.
Arnor and Eidur Gudjohnsen
Arnor Gudjohnsen didn’t just have a soccer-playing son, but founded a soccer-playing dynasty. Eidur once came on as a substitute for his father in a game for Iceland, the first time in history this had ever happened in an international soccer game, although the two were technically never on the pitch at the same time.
Eidur would have a long career for the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Barcelona and Tottenham
Not that that would diminish any of their achievements. Eidur would have a long career for the likes of PSV Eindhoven, Chelsea, Barcelona and Tottenham. He scored 26 goals in 88 times for Iceland – besting his dad’s record of 14 goals in 73 caps.
However, things didn’t end there for the family. Eidur’s sons, Sveinn Aron and Andri, both became professionals and have each racked up over 20 caps for Iceland, with his 18-year-old youngest son Daniel Tristan tipped as one to watch for the future.
Doc and Austin Rivers
The Rivers family claim to a unique achievement came in 2015, when Austin was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, where his father was coach. This made him the first NBA player to play for his father; he averaged 8.5 points per game across his career, also playing for the Wizards, Rockets, Knicks, Nuggets, Pelicans, and Timberwolves.
Father Doc was an accomplished defensive player, becoming an NBA All-Star in 1988 and playing with four teams during his career. His coaching career then saw him named Coach of the Year in 2000, before he led the Boston Celtics to an NBA title in 2008.