Most Popular Father-Son Duos in Sports

LeBron James and Bronny James

LeBron James has set many records in his 20+ year career. While he is still chasing Michael Jordan when it comes to championships, he has already passed the Ghost in Chicago in numerous categories.

Some of the seemingly untouchable records James has set in his career include:

• • All-time points scored – 50,000+ points
  • All-time minutes played – 71,104+ minutes
  • Most total games played – 1,854+ games
  • Most consecutive regular season games scoring – 1,562 games
  • Most consecutive regular season games with 10+ points – 1,300+ games

Lebron’s regular-season 10+ point scoring streak dates back to the 2007 season. He also has four championships in his career and made the finals every year from 2011 to 2018.

One of the goals LeBron set for himself in the latter stages of his career was to play alongside his sons. The best NBA betting sites expected LeBron “Bronny” James Jr. to be drafted despite his questionable resume and that’s exactly what happened.

The Lakers drafted LeBron’s son and they father-son duo played together in the 2024-2025 season.

LeBron and Bronny took the court together during the season opener against Minnesota, becoming the first father-son duo to do it. However, Bronny would spend most of the rest of the season in the G League. LeBron’s pull with the organization was enough to get his son drafted, but, thus far, Bronny’s talent has not earned him much playing time in the NBA.

Verdict: Nepotism

Dell, Steph, and Seth Curry

The Currys are another well-known NBA family with plenty of hardware in their trophy case. It started with Dell Curry, who played in the NBA from 1986-2002.

In his 19 professional seasons, Dell played for five NBA franchises, including Utah, Cleveland, Charlotte, Milwaukee, and Toronto. Dell was the 15th pick in the 1986 NBA Draft and won the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award in 1994.

A young Steph and Seth Curry watching their dad compete in the 1994 3-point shootout 📼 pic.twitter.com/o4MljLq9lr

— Fastbreak Hoops (@FastbreakHoops5) April 27, 2025

He was a solid role player, but Dell’s most significant contributions to the NBA were his sons, Stephen and Seth. Steph is the best three-point shooter of all time and helped revolutionize the modern NBA.

Some of Steph’s notable career achievements include:

• • 4x NBA champion
  • 2x NBA MVP
  • 1st unanimous MVP in NBA history
  • 11x NBA All-Star
  • 11x All-NBA team selection
  • Most 3-pointers made all-time (4,058)

The list goes on and on for the elder Curry brother. Steph’s last championship came in 2022, when he led the Warriors past the Celtics. He had multiple teammates who were second-generation stars, too, including Klay Thompson (Mychal Thompson) and Gary Payton II (Gary Payton).

His younger brother, Seth, has also had a respectable career in the NBA. He was undrafted in 2013 but has carved out a role for himself on multiple teams.

Some of the teams Seth has played on in his 10+ year career include Memphis, Cleveland, Phoenix, Sacramento, and Dallas. Seth’s family connections certainly earned him opportunities in the league. However, like his brother Steph, he has used his talent to make the most of the opportunities he has been given.

Verdict: Talent

Rick and Jalen Brunson

Last but not least, the third NBA pairing on my list of the best father-son sports duos is the Brunsons. Rick Brunson was undrafted in 1995, but he did not let that stop him from pursuing his NBA dreams.

After playing abroad for two years, Rick signed with the Portland Trailblazers in 1998. The next year, he joined the Knicks and helped the team advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Rick also played for Boston, Chicago, Toronto, and Houston, among others, during his NBA career.

His last year as a player came in 2006, and Rick moved to coaching the next season. He has coached for multiple NBA teams, such as Denver, Chicago, Charlotte, and Minnesota. Rick is currently an assistant coach for the Knicks.

His son Jalen was drafted by the Mavericks in 2018. Jalen was a key part of Dallas’s run to the WCF in 2022, but the team decided not to sign him to an extension. Brunson opted to join the Knicks, just 10 days after New York hired his father as an assistant coach.

Interestingly, Rick and Jalen are not the first father-son coach-player duo. That honor belongs to Doc and Austin Rivers, who achieved it in 2015.

Since joining the Knicks, Jalen has helped lead the team on multiple playoff runs, including making it to the 2025 ECF. He has set nearly a dozen team records, including most consecutive 20-point playoff games (20) and most 40-point playoff games (8).

Verdict: Talent

Deion, Shedeur, and Shilo Sanders

Deion Sanders was one of the premier athletes of the 1990s. He was drafted by the Falcons in 1989 and immediately became one of the best defenders in the NFL.

“Neon” Deion’s career accolades include:

• • 2x Super Bowl champion
  • 1994 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
  • 6x NFL 1st-Team All-Pro
  • 8x NFL Pro Bowler
  • 1990s All-Decade team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Being one of the best defensive players of all time was not enough for Deion, though. He also played nine seasons in the MLB, making his debut for the Yankees on May 31st, 1989. The lefty hit .263 for his career and had 39 homers, 168 RBIs, and 186 stolen bases.

After his playing days were over, Deion moved to coaching. He focused on two of his sons, Shedeur and Shilo. Deion has coached the duo since 2017, following them to college at Jackson State and then Colorado.

Both entered the 2025 NFL Draft after a 9-4 season at Colorado. Shilo and Shedeur will have new coaches this season in the NFL, as Deion is staying on at Colorado as the head coach.

Shilo went undrafted but signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shedeur, on the other hand, was the subject of plenty of pre-draft hype.

However, despite some analysts and many NFL betting sites projecting Shedeur as a top-10 pick, he slid to the fifth round and was drafted by Cleveland. Both Shilo and Shedeur will have to earn their spots on rosters for their rookie seasons in the league.

Verdict: Too early to tell

Patrick Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes II

One of the few cross-sports examples on my list of the top father and son athletes is Patrick “Pat” Mahomes and Patrick Mahomes II.

Pat was drafted by Minnesota in the 1988 MLB Draft, but he would not make his major league debut until the 1992 season. A right-handed pitcher, Pat played for six MLB teams in his decade-long career. He earned a 42-39 record, with a 5.47 ERA and 452 strikeouts.

Pat Mahomes holds future Super Bowl Quarterback, his son Patrick Mahomes. pic.twitter.com/6JBQj1lSUQ

— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) December 17, 2024

In 2017, Pat’s son, Patrick Mahomes II, was drafted by Kansas City. Patrick sat most of his rookie season but took over as the Chiefs started in 2018.

Since assuming starting duties, Patrick has racked up the following accomplishments:

• • 3x Super Bowl champion
  • 3x Super Bowl MVP
  • 2x NFL MVP
  • 9 PYG (NFL record)

The younger Mahomes is widely considered one of, if not the, best active quarterback in the NFL. Patrick’s career accomplishments, and the fact that he plays a different sport, have helped silence any claims of nepotism. However, there is no denying that his baseball background has helped him develop one of the most unique passing styles in the NFL.

Verdict: Nepo… who are we kidding, it’s talent, obviously

Asante Samuel and Asante Samuel Jr.

The son of a great NFL player does not always surpass their father’s success. One current example of a son not living up to the hype of his family name is Asante Samuel Jr.

Asante Samuel Sr. was one of the best defensive backs of his era. He was a fourth-round pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, joining a Patriots team that was in the midst of a dynastic run. Samuel Sr. spent five years in New England, winning two Super Bowls.

His other career highlights include the following:

• • First-team All-Pro (2007)
  • 4x NFL Pro Bowler
  • 2x NFL interception leader
  • 51 career interceptions
  • New England Patriots All-2000s Team
  • New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team
  • Most pick-sixes in the NFL playoffs (4)

Samuel Jr. was a highly touted prospect in the 2021 NFL Draft, partly because of his dad’s legacy. Even without his familial ties to the league, Samuel Jr. would have been a top prospect after a successful collegiate career that included being named 1st-Team All-ACC in 2020.

He was picked in the second round by the LA Chargers. Unfortunately, the younger Samuel has not lived up to expectations so far.

In 50 games for the Chargers, Samuel Jr. had six interceptions, 37 passes defended, one fumble recovery, and 176 tackles. LA opted not to re-sign Samuel Jr, and he is currently a free agent looking for a new team ahead of the 2025 season.

Verdict: Nepotism

Marvin Harrison and Marvin Harrison Jr.

Speaking of star players from the 2000s, Marvin Harrison Sr. and his son, Marvin Harrison Jr., are another example of father-son professional athletes.

Harrison Sr. was drafted by the Colts in 1996, but his career did not take off until the team drafted Peyton Manning in 1998. The wideout made his first All-Pro team in 1999 and was also a Pro Bowler that season.

Some of Harrison Sr.’s achievements during his NFL career are:

• • Super Bowl 41 champion
  • 3x 1st-Team All-Pro
  • 5x 2nd-Team All-Pro
  • 8x Pro Bowler
  • 2x NFL receiving yards leader
  • 2x NFL receptions leader
  • NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
  • NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Harrison Sr. was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2016. His son, Harrison Jr., made his debut at Ohio State in 2021 and quickly became one of the top weapons for the Buckeyes.

After a standout career in college, which included two First-team All-Big selection and a 2023 Biletnikoff award, Harrison Jr. declared for the NFL Draft. He was drafted fourth overall by the Cardinals in the 2024 draft.

Harrison Jr. put up the following stats in his rookie season:

• • 62 receptions (5th among rookies)
  • 885 receiving yards (5th among rookies)
  • 8 touchdowns (T-2nd among rookies)

He was not the best rookie receiver, but Harrison Jr. also had the disadvantage of playing on the Cardinals. Like his dad, Harrison Jr. could be limited by poor quarterback play in the early part of his career.

Verdict: Too early to tell

Joey Porter and Joey Porter Jr.

Rounding out my list of the best father-son athletes in the NFL are Joey Porter Sr. and Joey Porter Jr. Porter Sr. was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1999 Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A key part of the Steelers’ defense in the early 2000s, Porter Sr. helped the team win Super Bowl 40. Among the linebacker’s other career accolades are:

• • 2x 1st-Team All-Pro
  • 2x 2nd-Team All-Pro
  • 4x Pro Bowler
  • NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
  • Pittsburgh Steelers All-Time Team

Porter Sr. also played for the Dolphins and the Cardinals before retiring after the 2011 season. He totaled 689 tackles and 98 sacks in his career. He returned to Pittsburgh as a member of the coaching staff from 2014 to 2018.

In 2023, the Steelers selected Porter Jr. with the 32nd pick in the NFL Draft. He has started 27 games at cornerback for Pittsburgh over the last two seasons. Porter Jr. has two interceptions, 17 passes defensed, and 113 tackles so far in his career.

The family connection certainly influenced Pittsburgh’s decision to draft Porter Jr. However, the younger Porter earned the right to be a high NFL pick after a standout collegiate career at Penn State.

Verdict: Talent

Fernando Tatis Sr. and Fernando Tatis Jr.

Fernando Tatis Sr. signed with the Rangers in 1992 at the age of 17. In 1997, he made his MLB debut, playing third base for Texas. He played 60 games in his rookie season but was traded the next year to St. Louis.

Tatis Sr. played for five teams in his career, including Montreal, Baltimore, and the New York Mets. His career statistics include:

• • .265 batting average
  • 113 home runs
  • 448 RBIs

In addition to being a productive hitter, Tatis Sr. has the record for most RBIs in an inning (8). Tatis Sr. achieved that record by hitting two grand slams in the same inning.

He retired in 2010, and his son, Tatis Jr., was signed by the White Sox in 2015. Tatis Jr. was traded to San Diego in 2016 and made his MLB debut in 2019.

The younger Tatis quickly became a rising star in the pros and was named to his first All-MLB team in 2020. His achievements thus far also include:

• • 2x All-Star
  • 2x All-MLB First Team
  • Golden Glove Award (2023)
  • 2x Silver Slugger

Tatis Jr. led the National League in home runs in 2021. However, a scaphoid bone fracture and a PED suspension cost him the entire 2022 season. He has slowly but surely regained his career momentum after the last two and a half seasons.

As a result, you can often see him as one of our MLB home run picks of the day.

Verdict: Talent

Vladimir Guerrero and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is another second-generation superstar in the MLB. His father, Vlad Guerrero, was nicknamed “Vlad the Impaler” and spent 16 years in the MLB.

The elder Guerrero made his debut for Montreal in 1996. He also played for the Angels, Rangers, and Orioles. During his tenure in the pros, Vlad the Impaler earned nine All-Star nominations, eight Silver Slugger awards, and was named the 2004 AL MVP.

Like father, like son — 18 years later pic.twitter.com/B6T64LtBxA

— MLB (@MLB) January 30, 2024

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, earning nearly 93% of the vote on his second ballot.

Guerrero Jr. made his debut the next year. He has spent his entire professional career thus far with Toronto and is one of the best power hitters in the league.

Here is how the two Guerreros stack up to each other so far.

Guerrero Jr. has a long way to go to catch his father. However, assuming he stays healthy, the younger Guerrero is well on his way to joining his dad in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Verdict: Talent

Keith, Matthew, and Brady Tkachuk

Keith Tkachuk was one of the best American-born players to grace the ice in the NHL. He was drafted 19th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in the 1990 NHL Draft.

In his 18-year career, Keith spent a decade with the Jets/Coyotes, including moving with the team to Phoenix in 1996. He also played nine years for St. Louis and one year with Atlanta before retiring in 2010.

The Hall of Famer racked up 538 goals, 527 assists, 1,065 points, and 72 game-winning goals in his career.

Keith’s two sons, Matthew and Brady, have also made a name for themselves in the NHL. Matthew, the older son, was drafted by Calgary in 2016. He played for the Flames for six years before being traded to Florida.

Matthew has been a key player for the Panthers during their recent title run. Florida won the Stanley Cup in 2024, and, at the time of writing, has a 2-1 lead in the 2025 Stanley Cup Final.

Brady, on the other hand, was drafted fourth overall by Ottawa in the 2018 Draft. He was named to the 2019 NHL All-Rookie team and is a four-time All-Star. The youngest Tkachuk has 404 points and 25 game-winning goals so far in his career.

Verdict: Talent

Tiger Woods and Charlie Woods

Tiger Woods carried golf for over a decade. During his prime, Tiger turned pro in 1996 and quickly established himself as one of the best golfers ever.

Tiger Woods made a rare public appearance on the golf course today, cheering on his son Charlie at the Florida Amateur Championship.

It marks one of the first times the golf legend has been spotted since undergoing Achilles surgery earlier this year. Woods looked relaxed as he… pic.twitter.com/LpwrB1xE4V

— TMSPN.com (@sportsgossip) June 9, 2025

At his peak, Tiger held the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings for 683 weeks. He has won dozens of accolades in his career, such as:

• • 110 professional wins.
  • 5x Masters Champion
  • 4x PGA Championship winner
  • 3x U.S. Open champion
  • 3x The Open Championship winner
  • 11x PGA Tour Player of the Year winner
  • 11x PGA Player of the Year winner
  • 9x Vardon Trophy winner

Tiger was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021. Despite his struggles off the course, Tiger is undoubtedly one of the best golfers of all time.

Tiger’s son Charlie is also rising in the ranks of the golf world. He won the 2024 SFPGA Jr Cup and the 2025 Team TaylorMade Invitational. He has not turned pro, yet, but Charlie has had plenty of success in the amateur ranks despite being just 16 years old.

Verdict: Too early to tell

Jay and Bill Haas

Another premier father-son duo in golf is Jay and Bill Haas. Jay made his pro debut in 1976, but his career did not hit its peak until the 1990s.

The elder Haas never won a major during his career. However, he does have 33 professional wins. Also, he had 16 top-10 finishes at majors and made the cut in 68 of his 87 major appearances. Despite not winning a major, Jay was a consistent player, making the cut in 593 of his 799 events.

Jay’s championship luck turned around after joining the Senior Tour in 2004. He won the Senior PGA Championship in 2006 and 2008. Jay also claimed victory at the 2009 Senior Players Championship.

Bill made his pro debut in 2004, the same year Jay joined the Senior Tour.

The younger Haas has earned seven professional wins in his career and peaked at 12th in the OWGR in 2012. Bill’s best finish in a major came when he tied for fifth at the 2017 U.S. Open. He has also won three Presidents Cups in his professional career.

Verdict: Talent

Michael and Mick Schumacher

German racing legend Michael Schumacher was one of the most prolific drivers in F1 in the 1990s and early 2000s. When he retired in 2012, Michael held multiple records in the sport, including:

• • Most Formula One World Drivers’ Championship titles (7)
  • Most wins (91)
  • Most pole positions (68)
  • Most podium finishes (155)

Unfortunately, many of the above records have been broken in the decade-plus since Michael retired. However, he still owns multiple other records, including the fastest laps (77) and the most hat-tricks (22).

Michael’s son, Mick, also ventured into the world of F1 racing. After joining the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2019, he made his practice debut at the 2020 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

In 2021 and 2022, Mick competed for Haas, finishing 19th and 16th in the World Drivers’ Championship in those seasons. However, by the end of 2022, Haas and Ferrari cut ties with Mick. He then spent the 2023 and 2024 seasons as a reserve driver for Mercedes-AMG.

Mick joined the World Endurance Championship in 2024, racing for Alpine. He also raced for Alpine in 2025, but he did not compete in F1.

Given the nature of the sport, it is hard to argue that Mick’s family connections did not help him at the beginning of his racing career. However, unlike other second-generation stars on this list, Mick has not been able to capitalize on his family name, yet.

Verdict: Nepotism

Jos Verstappen and Max Verstappen

Max Verstappen has had no trouble making the most out of his family’s connections to the racing world. Max’s father, Jos Verstappen, raced for a decade in F1, earning two podiums in his 106 starts.

Despite his lack of wins, Jos was a well-respected driver during his career. His aggressive driving style made him a tough opponent.

"Since I was little, he always pushed me to be better." – Max Verstappen on his father and coach, Jos Verstappen. 🏁

Because champions aren’t born, they’re coached.
📲 Try AI Coaching today. https://t.co/wZJnrCkVjL#SymTrain #AICoaching #EveryChampionHasACoach pic.twitter.com/eR9woYzf0q

— SymTrain (@symtrain) June 6, 2025

Jos has five children, including 27-year-old Max. When he was 17, Max became the youngest F1 driver in history when he debuted at the Australian Grand Prix. He is also the youngest driver to win an F1 Grand Prix, taking first place at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

Max has already passed Jos in terms of career accomplishments. The younger Verstappen has 65 wins in his F1 career and has four F1 World Drivers’ Championships. On the other hand, the Dutch driver undoubtedly benefited from the mentoring his father has provided throughout his racing career.

Verdict: Talent

Rey and Dominik Mysterio

Rey Mysterio broke into the wrestling business at the age of 14. He was trained by his uncle, Rey Misterio, in the Lucha Libre style.

Mysterio broke into the business after signing with AAA in the early 1990s. He also spent time in ECW and WCW, among others, before making his way to the WWE in 2002. In the 20+ years since, Rey has become one of the most beloved WWE superstars.

His accomplishments in the WWE are seemingly endless, but some of his biggest career highlights include

• • WWE Champion
  • 2x World Heavyweight Champion
  • 5x tag team champion
  • 2006 Royal Rumble winner
  • 2023 Hall of Fame inductee

In 2005, Rey introduced his son Dominik as part of a storyline with Eddie Guerrero. Over a decade later, Dominik started training to be a wrestler himself. He made his WWE debut in 2019, teaming with Rey as The Mysterios.

Dominik worked alongside Rey for years but turned on his father when he flipped heel in 2022. He has carved out a role as one of the biggest heels in the WWE.

However, despite his success in recent years, Dominik will forever be tied to his father. Dominik is a talented young wrestler, but he would not have been able to jump straight to the WWE if his father had not been Rey Mysterio.

Verdict: A bit of both

The Anoa’i Family

There are many other examples of talented wrestlers benefiting from clear nepotism in the WWE. Bron Breakker, son of Rick Steiner, and Randy Orton, a third-generation superstar and the son of “Cowboy” Bob Orton, are two other examples.

However, if you want family connections in pro wrestling, you need not look any further than the Anoa’i Family. The WWE has prominently featured members of the Samoan family for decades, especially in recent years as part of The Bloodline.

The BloodLine Family Tree!! #WWE pic.twitter.com/487ezCL8yj

— Lance Anoa’i (@lanceanoai) April 26, 2024

Notable father-son connections in the Anoa’i family include:

The Anoa’i family has been part of pro wrestling for decades, and the list above barely scratches the surface of the father-son duos.

On one hand, the premier members of the family have not been shy about using their connections to help others gain employment in the WWE. However, wrestlers like The Rock and Roman Reigns were only able to climb to the top of the WWE ranks because of their talent.

Verdict: Talent