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On Sunday night, LeBron James and Bronny James marked a special moment in sports history.
In the Lakers’ pre-season match against the Phoenix Suns, the two became the first-ever father and son pair to play together on an NBA team.
“We stood next to each other and I kinda looked at him, and it was just like, ‘Is this The Matrix or something?’” LeBron said. “It just didn’t feel real. But it was great to have those moments out there with him.”
While admitting that it was a bit surreal to play alongside his dad, Bronny added that “when I’m playing, he’s just my teammate. That’s all I’m thinking at that point.”
Teammates with a family bond
While LeBron and Bronny James may be the first parent and child to play together as NBA ballers, they’re far from the first family to have a history as teammates in professional sports.
Their debut together on the court has sparked some memories of other father-son professional athletes in sports history. Take a closer look at some of the most notable pros with family ties.
Gordie Howe, Mark Howe and Marty Howe
It’s remarkable enough that Gordie Howe was still playing pro hockey into his 50s. But when his two sons, Mark and Marty, went pro, it became a momentous occasion in sports history: the three Howes became the first father and sons to ever play together on the same team in American professional sports.
Nicknamed “Mr. Hockey,” Gordie was best known for his 25 seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. He had actually retired in 1971, but decided to come back to get the chance to play with his sons.
The three Howes played for the Houston Aeros and then the Hartford Whalers in the World Hockey Association (WHA). The Whalers moved to the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1979 with Gordie, Mark and Marty all on the team. It would be Gordie’s last season, but it gave the Howe trio a chance to play together at the highest level in their sport.
Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.
Similar to Gordie Howe, Ken Griffey decided to extend his career just a bit longer in order to play pro ball with his son, Ken Griffey Jr.
Griffey Sr. was best known as an outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds and two-time World Series champ. In the middle of the Reds’ 1990 season, the team released him.
Griffey Sr. wasn’t without a team for long, however. The Seattle Mariners convinced him to sign on with them just days after his release from the Reds. Part of the draw was the fact that his son was already playing for the Mariners.
The two became the first father and son to appear in the same lineup on August 31, 1990 in a game against the Kansas City Royals. Ken Sr. and Ken Jr. played side by side in the outfield.
The Griffeys competed together as Mariners until the conclusion of the 1991 season, at which point Griffey Sr. decided to retire due to a neck injury. Griffey Jr., often referred to as “the Kid,” continued to play in the MLB through 2010 and became one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history.
Tim Raines and Tim Raines Jr.
Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Raines started his pro career with the Montreal Expos, a team he’d stay with for 13 seasons. But for a short stint toward the end of his career, he had the chance to play with his son, Tim Raines Jr.
At first, the two were opponents. In 2001, Tim Sr. was playing for the Expos Triple-A club, the Ottawa Lynx. He and Tim Jr. actually became the first father-son pair to play against each other in a professional baseball game when the Lynx went up against the Rochester Red Wings.
By the end of that season, however, both Raines men ended up playing for the Baltimore Orioles. They played left fielder and center fielder together, making them the second father and son to play for the same MLB team (after Griffey Sr. and Jr.).
Raines Sr. played one more season with the Florida Marlins before retiring. Raines Jr. stayed with the Orioles through 2004, when he made his last MLB appearance.
Winning the genetic lottery
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While playing on the same team together is a rare feat for parents and children in pro sports, there are plenty of families that have passed on their athletic genes to great success.
Here are some of the other sports dynasties that involve parents and children who both competed in professional sports, though not on the same team at the same time:
Baseball
- Cecil Fielder and Prince Fielder
- Cal Ripken Sr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Billy Ripken
Basketball
- Dell Curry, Stephen Curry and Seth Curry
- Joe Bryant and Kobe Bryant
Football
- Clay Matthews Sr., Clay Matthews Jr., Bruce Matthews, Casey Matthews and Clay Matthews III
- Archie Manning, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning
Boxing
- Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
- Muhammad Ali and Laila Ali
Stock car racing
- Ralph Earnhardt, Dale Earnhardt and Dale Earnhardt Jr.
- Lee Petty, Richard Petty and Kyle Petty