I have to admit, I never realized how many second-generation players have passed through NBA locker rooms through the years. I remember recently watching a Los Angeles Lakers game, and when Wesley Matthews Jr. checked into the game and the announcers started talking about how his father played for the Lakers in the 1980s. I never knew his father played in the NBA, let alone won a championship.
That statement from the commentator got the wheels turning as I began to think about all the players I knew of that their father played in the league as well. This led me down a rabbit hole as I researched how many father-son tandems have played in the NBA. I tell you all this because that’s what led me to write this article.
With over 80 different second-generation players, it was difficult to narrow the list down but without further ado, let’s explore 30 of the most prominent father-son duos to ever play in the league.
NBA players who also had kids play in the league: Glen Rice/Glen Rice Jr.
Glen Rice was an absolute stud in college. Over his final two seasons at the University of Michigan, he averaged 24 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from three. His senior year, he led the Wolverines to a National Championship in 1989, scoring a record 184 points in the NCAA tournament, breaking the previous record of 177 set by Bill Bradley 24 years earlier.
After a dominant senior season in college where he saw his draft stock rise, Rice was taken fourth overall by the Miami Heat in the 1989 NBA Draft. It took him a few seasons in the league to get completely acclimated, but by his third season, he was averaging 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game and led the Heat to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
In 1995 he won the NBA Three-Point Contest, and the following season he made his first of three consecutive All-Star games. From 1992-2000 he averaged 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 41 percent from three. In 2000, he finally won an NBA championship as the starting small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Glen Rice Jr. was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded on draft night to the Washington Wizards. He played a total of 16 games in the NBA with one start and spent the majority of his career in the G-League before taking his talents overseas.
NBA players who also had kids play in the league: Greg Anthony/Cole Anthony
Greg Anthony was a career role player; he was not a talented scorer but carved out a 12-year career in the league due to his reputation as a hard-nosed defender.
He won a National Championship in 1990 when the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels upset title favorite Duke in a 103-73 victory.
Drafted in the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft, Anthony played his first five seasons with the New York Knicks, losing to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals in a heartbreaking seven-game series in 1994.
After being selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995 expansion Draft, he would have the best statistical season of his career, posting averages of 14 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 30.4 minutes per game.
Cole Anthony is much more skilled offensively than his father, but he’s not nearly the defender he was. After an underwhelming and inefficient season with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Anthony declared for the draft. The Orlando Magic selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Initially starting his career in a bench role, Anthony was promoted to full-time starter when the Magic lost Markelle Fultz for the remainder of the season with a leg injury. On Jan. 20, he hit what the Magic hoped was the first of many game-winning shots when he knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a one-point victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s shown flashes of his potential to be a cornerstone piece for Orlando moving forward, but he’s currently sitting out with no timetable to return as he nurses a rib injury.
NBA players who also had kids play in the league: Mike Dunleavy Sr./Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Mike Dunleavy Sr. was drafted in the sixth round of the 1976 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He made two trips to the NBA Finals, once as a member of the 76ers, and once with the Houston Rockets, losing both. Chronic back pain forced him to retire after just nine seasons. He also made the Finals as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, losing once again.
He also served as the VP of basketball operations of the Milwaukee Bucks while also serving as the head coach in the mid-’90s. He last coached in the NBA for the LA Clippers from 2003-2010, where he was also the general manager.
His son Mike Dunleavy Jr. starred at Duke University, playing under esteemed head coach Mike Krzyzewski, winning a National Championship his sophomore year in 2001. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the third overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft.
He played for six teams in his 15-year NBA career, and his best days came in Indiana. In his four and a half seasons with the Pacers, Dunleavy averaged 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, and in 2011, he helped the franchise reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
A deadeye marksman and career 37.7 percent 3-point shooter, he only shot less under 35 percent from the perimeter five times, and he converted 45.1 percent of his 3-point attempts in 32 postseason games. As of 2019, Dunleavy serves as the assistant general manager of the Warriors.
I have to admit, I never realized how many second-generation players have passed through NBA locker rooms through the years. I remember recently watching a Los Angeles Lakers game, and when Wesley Matthews Jr. checked into the game and the announcers started talking about how his father played for the Lakers in the 1980s. I never knew his father played in the NBA, let alone won a championship.
That statement from the commentator got the wheels turning as I began to think about all the players I knew of that their father played in the league as well. This led me down a rabbit hole as I researched how many father-son tandems have played in the NBA. I tell you all this because that’s what led me to write this article.
With over 80 different second-generation players, it was difficult to narrow the list down but without further ado, let’s explore 30 of the most prominent father-son duos to ever play in the league.
NBA players who also had kids play in the league: Glen Rice/Glen Rice Jr.
Glen Rice was an absolute stud in college. Over his final two seasons at the University of Michigan, he averaged 24 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 49.1 percent from three. His senior year, he led the Wolverines to a National Championship in 1989, scoring a record 184 points in the NCAA tournament, breaking the previous record of 177 set by Bill Bradley 24 years earlier.
After a dominant senior season in college where he saw his draft stock rise, Rice was taken fourth overall by the Miami Heat in the 1989 NBA Draft. It took him a few seasons in the league to get completely acclimated, but by his third season, he was averaging 22.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game and led the Heat to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
In 1995 he won the NBA Three-Point Contest, and the following season he made his first of three consecutive All-Star games. From 1992-2000 he averaged 21.2 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals while shooting 41 percent from three. In 2000, he finally won an NBA championship as the starting small forward for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Glen Rice Jr. was drafted in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers and traded on draft night to the Washington Wizards. He played a total of 16 games in the NBA with one start and spent the majority of his career in the G-League before taking his talents overseas.
NBA players who also had kids play in the league: Greg Anthony/Cole Anthony
Greg Anthony was a career role player; he was not a talented scorer but carved out a 12-year career in the league due to his reputation as a hard-nosed defender.
He won a National Championship in 1990 when the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels upset title favorite Duke in a 103-73 victory.
Drafted in the first round of the 1991 NBA Draft, Anthony played his first five seasons with the New York Knicks, losing to the Houston Rockets in the NBA Finals in a heartbreaking seven-game series in 1994.
After being selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the 1995 expansion Draft, he would have the best statistical season of his career, posting averages of 14 points, 6.9 assists, and 1.7 steals in 30.4 minutes per game.
Cole Anthony is much more skilled offensively than his father, but he’s not nearly the defender he was. After an underwhelming and inefficient season with the North Carolina Tar Heels, Anthony declared for the draft. The Orlando Magic selected him with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
Initially starting his career in a bench role, Anthony was promoted to full-time starter when the Magic lost Markelle Fultz for the remainder of the season with a leg injury. On Jan. 20, he hit what the Magic hoped was the first of many game-winning shots when he knocked down a 3-pointer at the buzzer for a one-point victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. He’s shown flashes of his potential to be a cornerstone piece for Orlando moving forward, but he’s currently sitting out with no timetable to return as he nurses a rib injury.
NBA players who also had kids play in the league: Mike Dunleavy Sr./Mike Dunleavy Jr.
Mike Dunleavy Sr. was drafted in the sixth round of the 1976 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. He made two trips to the NBA Finals, once as a member of the 76ers, and once with the Houston Rockets, losing both. Chronic back pain forced him to retire after just nine seasons. He also made the Finals as the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers in 1991, losing once again.
He also served as the VP of basketball operations of the Milwaukee Bucks while also serving as the head coach in the mid-’90s. He last coached in the NBA for the LA Clippers from 2003-2010, where he was also the general manager.
His son Mike Dunleavy Jr. starred at Duke University, playing under esteemed head coach Mike Krzyzewski, winning a National Championship his sophomore year in 2001. After his junior year, he was drafted by the Golden State Warriors with the third overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft.
He played for six teams in his 15-year NBA career, and his best days came in Indiana. In his four and a half seasons with the Pacers, Dunleavy averaged 14 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game, and in 2011, he helped the franchise reach the playoffs for the first time since 2006.
A deadeye marksman and career 37.7 percent 3-point shooter, he only shot less under 35 percent from the perimeter five times, and he converted 45.1 percent of his 3-point attempts in 32 postseason games. As of 2019, Dunleavy serves as the assistant general manager of the Warriors.
