The moment every NBA fan was waiting for since the preseason arrived on Wednesday evening when Bronny James joined his father and basketball legend, Lebron James, on the court during the clash between Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves. They marked the first father-son duo in the sport’s history to share the court. Bronny entered towards the end of the second quarter and was greeted with a rousing reception.
"Y'all ready? You see the intensity, right? Just play carefree, though," Lebron said to his son. "Don't worry about mistakes. Just go out and play hard." At 39, Lebron James is showing no signs of slowing down and is aiming to add one more to his tally of four rings before he bids goodbye to the game. While we can’t wait to see the kind of magic Lebron and his son create on court, here’s a look at a few father-son duos who have excelled in the same sport in the past. From Jos and Max Verstappen to Arjun and Sachin Tendulkar, get to know the sons who followed in their father’s footsteps.
7 father-son duos who dominated in the same sport
Dell Curry & Steph Curry - NBA
Steph Curry needs no introduction, but not many know that his father Dell too was a legendary hooper, plying his trade for the Charlotte Hornets and finishing as the team's leading scorer. Steph, of course, has a more glorious career, winning four NBA titles. He is also widely-regarded for revolutionising the game with his three-pointers.
Peter Schmeichel & Kasper Schmeichel - Football
Peter Schmeichel is one of the most accomplished goalkeepers of all time, winning the Premier League five times and the Champions League once in 1998, with Manchester United. Schmeichel is often seen at Old Trafford, but the only time he wouldn't support Manchester United is when they are playing against his son Kasper Schmeichel's team, Leicester City. Kasper was the bulwark of Leicester's defence that won the Premier League in 2015-16.
Sunil Gavaskar & Rohan Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar has had a very illustrious cricketing career and is among India’s legendary cricketers, playing in an era when bowlers were actually pretty quick and helmets were not sturdy enough. In his career, Sunil delivered 34 Test centuries and was the most reliable batter in the team. His son, Rohan Gavaskar, also made his Indian debut in 2004, but could only play 11 matches. Rohan not only followed his father's footsteps by playing cricket, but went a step ahead by joining him as a successful broadcaster.
Cesare Maldini & Paolo Maldini - Football
Cesare Maldini was a legendary Italian manager and player who represented AC Milan in the domestic league. He was known for his aggressive persona, exceptional defensive skills and leadership quality. These pro-football genes were definitely passed on to his son Paolo Maldini, who would go on to become one of the most celebrated defenders in the history of the game.
Sachin Tendulkar & Arjun Tendulkar
It was always going to be impossible to come out of the sprawling shadow that Sachin Tendulkar has cast on the cricketing landscape. But his son Arjun Tendulkar is currently making his name playing for the Ranji trophy and representing Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Sachin too played for the same team for six seasons.
Michael schumacher and Mick schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a seven-time Formula 1 World Champion, widely regarded as one of the greatest drivers in the history of the sport. He had set the records for the most wins (91), pole positions (68), and fastest laps (77). His son Mick too followed his footstep, making his F1 debut for Haas in 2021.
Jos Verstappen & Max Verstappen
Jos Verstappen had a fairly successful karting career, where he won two European championships, before transitioning to F1 in 1994. He secured two podium finishes during his brief stint in F1, in 1995. His son Max Verstappen, however, is among the most skilled drivers the grid has seen. Having already won three world championships, the Red Bull driver is sitting at the brink of his fourth title, if all goes in his favour this season.
