The second generation NBA players are abundant, and why not?
Papas can transmit their size, dedication and athletics. Papa’s beautiful compensation can allow a son an opportunity to follow his traces. And dad driving can be used as a roadmap.
Dylan Harper, the second choice of the NBA draft on Wednesday, is the last budding star whose father was decorated before him. Ron Harper crowned a 15 -year NBA career by winning five NBA championships in the past six seasons, consecutive titles with Lakers in 2000 and 2001 after three with the Chicago Bulls in 1996, 1997 and ’98.
Ron Harper of the Lakers leads for a lay-up at the Staples Center.
(Paul Morse / Los Angeles Times)
Dylan, a 6 -foot 5 -inch goalkeeper of Rutgers, was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs. His brother, Ron Harper Jr., is also in the NBA, having played 11 games for Detroit and Toronto’s abutments in the past three years.
In any other sport, the offspring of a former star player climbed at the highest level would be particularly remarkable. That the sons of Ron Harper are at the dawn of similar careers that their father was nothing out of the ordinary.
LeBron James and his eldest son, Bonny, became the first father-son duo to take the court at the same time at the opening of the Lakers season last October. But it is only one of the many dynamics of a son who chooses the same career path to the NBA as his father.
The Lakers striker, LeBron James, welcomes his son and his teammate Bronny James, on the right, during the heating.
(Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)
The phenomenon dates back to a long way. Two sons of the legend of Minneapolis Lakers sounds, George Mikan – an All -NBA center five times in the early 1950s – were drafted in the NBA, with one, Larry, playing 53 games in 1970-71.
During a 15 -year career which ended in 1964, the center of the Dolph Shayes fame renowned fell on average 18.5 points and 12.1 rebounds per match. His son, Danny Shayes, surpassed the father of career longevity, playing from 18 to 1999 for seven teams, including a short passage with Lakers.
Butch Van Breda Kolff played four seasons in the 1940s and in 1976, his son, Jan, became the first player to face a team trained by his father when Jan played for the New York Nets while Butch resulted in New Orleans jazz. Butch also trained the Lakers in the NBA final in 1968 and 1969, where they lost against the Boston Celtics twice.
Other sons who have faced teams trained by their fathers – who have also played in the NBA – include Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Sr., Coby and George Karl, and Austin and Doc Rivers.
Austin Rivers also became the first to play for his father in an NBA match when he was exchanged to the Clippers in 2015. At first, he was not delighted when his father called to alert him to the proposed agreement.
“He called me and asked me if” it was something that might be interested because we need you “,” said Austin at his introductory press conference. “When I heard that, it was one of those things where I just had to think, take a day to myself and be like:” could it work? ”
“And this is the case, just because of the relationship I have with him. It is already in a way oriented towards basketball … It’s not so much as a father.
Sons who have reached more than their father abound. Dell Curry was not to be outdone, with an average of 11.7 points and won $ 19.8 million during a 16 -year NBA career which ended in 2002. A son, Seth, is in his 11th season, having an average of 10 points while winning $ 45 million.
1 and 1 Dell Curry de Toronto Raptors landed above Damon Stoudamire de Trail Blazers while going to the hoop in their NBA match on Wednesday, December 6, 2000, in Portland, Ore. (Jack Smith / Associated Press) 2 Guardian of the Golden State Warriors, Stephen Curry, passes in front of the Houston Rockets striker, Amen Thompson (1) in the second half of match 5 of a series of NBA basketball playoff series on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (David J. Phillip / Associated Press)
Dell’s other son, Stephen, is a certain temple of fame, recognized as perhaps the best pure shooter in history. He led the Golden State Warriors to four NBA titles while making an average of 24.4 points and earning $ 357.8 million out of 16 seasons.
Klay Thompson was a Steph Curry teammate in the four Warriors championship teams, and he has an average of 19.1 points while earning 268.8 million dollars out of 12 seasons. This easily eclipses the exploits of his Loquace father, Mychal Thompson, who won two titles with the Lakers before becoming a broadcaster with the team as well as a radio personality.
The list of father-son duets is too long to mention them all. Here is a handful.
The guardian of three sons of the renowned temple Rick Barry played in the NBA, Brent having the most success. The UCLA Mike Bibby product surpassed his father by playing 14 years against the nine of Henry. Kevin Love has ahead of his father, but the association of Stan Love with the Beach Boys stood out.
Father-son combos include a crowd of juniors in addition to the Harpers and Dunleavys, among them the Larry Drews, the Patrick Ewings, the Rich Dumas, the Matt Guokasses, the Tim Hardaways, the Gerald Hendersons, the Jaren Jackson, the John Lucases, the James Paxons, the Gara Pippins, Glen Rice, Glenn Robinson, the Wally Szczerbiaks, the Gary Tents and the Duane Washingtons.
And, of course, there are more Lakers links.
Luke Walton equaled his father to two NBA championships and also led the Lakers, but could not reach the cult status of Bill Walton, a legend from the UCLA whose original and disproportionate personality transcended his achievements in the court.
The former laker who actually transcended not only his father’s career, but that of almost all the players was Kobe Bryant. His father, Joe (Jellybean) Bryant, died last July, four years after the death tragically tragically in a helicopter accident which also took the life of his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.
The fractive relationship between Kobe and his father is well chronic, and they rarely spoke after Kobe married his wife, Vanessa.
Dylan Harper’s relationship with his father is stronger, although Ron Harper divorced Dylan’s mother in 2012. She raised her two sons and a daughter as a single mother who also trained high school basketball and lead a travel program.
Maria Harper, former player of division I at the University of New Orleans, was a deputy coach of boys when his sons played Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey.
“She was hard but loving,” Dylan told athletics in 2023. “She was not hard either. Everyone had a little.”
Ron Sr. approached his ex-wife in 2007. However, he pointed to recruiters in Maria when Dylan was courted by the colleges.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of him, but I don’t want it for me,” he said at the time.
However, like any father, Ron Sr. was proud of his son’s achievements.
“When Dylan was 5 years old, I told people he was going to be really good,” he said. “He reminded me.
Dylan Harper could go beyond his father’s achievements in the way Bryant and Curry did – or did not do so. In addition to winning five titles, Ron Harper collected an average of 13.8 points and 3.9 assists in 1,009 NBA games.
In any case, Dylan is about to join a long list of players whose fathers have opened a path they followed.
