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Pro sports has a tendency to repeat patterns. Whether its style of play or the type of players they employ, pro sports is repetitive. A few years ago it was the Miami Dolphins and the wildcat offense. Suddenly, other NFL teams started using it.
In the NBA, it is small-ball. Pro teams also dip into a developmental program repeatedly for prospects and young talent like when John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Pattrick Patterson, Eric Bledsoe, and Daniel Orton were all selected in the first round of the 2010 NBA Draft from Kentucky University.
Pro sports franchises also find themselves repeatedly finding top-notch talent from the same gene pool or families. The NHL had the Sutter brother. There were six of them Duane, Daryl, Brent, Brian, Ron, and Rich.
There were the Sedin twins Daniel and Henrik. There is also the Staal brothers Eric, Marc, Jordan, and Jared. In baseball, the Molina brothers Benji, Yadier and Jose all played back-catcher. Joe and Phil Niekro and Justin and Melvin Upton are a couple of other examples of outstanding multiple family members starring in MLB. The NBA has its fair share of family successes and here is a quick look at ten of them.
#1 Cheryl and Reggie Miller
A collegiate star at USC averaging 23.6 points and 12 rebounds over four seasons Cheryl Miller has been a female standout in the basketball world. She is a 2 time NCAA Champion.
Representing her country, the USA, she has been a member of the USA Women's National Basketball team that won gold at the 1984 Summer Olympics, the 1983 Pan American Games, the 1986 Goodwill Games, and the FIBA World Championship for Women.
Cheryl Miller is still the record holder in a number of categories for the USC Trojans. Those categories are in points (3,018, 23.6 ppg), rebounds (1,534, 12.0 rpg), field goals made (1,159), free throws made (700), games played (128), and steals (462).
She has held a number of coaching positions since her playing days and was the Phoenix Mercury’s head coach and general manager in the WNBA from 1997-2000. Miller has also been a sideline reporter having worked for numerous cable Networks. Cheryl Miller has also been inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame. Currently, Miller is the head coach for the University of Cal State Los Angeles.
Cheryl is the sister of Reggie Miller. Reggie Miller is debatably the best player to ever wear an Indiana Pacers uniform where he starred in the NBA from 1987-2005. Reggie Miller amassed 25, 279 points in the NBA and made 2,560 three-point shots for 2nd all time. He was also a 5 time NBA All-Star.
One of his many outstanding accomplishments was scoring 8 points in 9 seconds in a playoff game against the NewYork Knicks.
Miller was known for a tireless work ethic and was a difficult man to guard. He constantly ran off of multiple screens to create space for catch and shoot opportunities. If defenders did manage to crowd him, he would find a way to use the defender’s aggression against him and get to the foul line.
#2 T-Mac and Vince Carter
In the early years of the Toronto Raptors' existence, the one thing the Toronto Raptors did well was draft well. In 1998, it was the decision to draft and trade Antwan Jamison in the 4th spot of the draft for Golden State’s selection Vince Carter.
However, in 1997 the Raptors also drafted Tracy McGrady. Toronto fans who remember those days can only look back now and reminisce on what could have been. These two cousins left NBA fans with many moments of nostalgic pleasure.
McGrady left Toronto, in the summer of 2000, for Orlando in a sign and trade. While in Orlando, McGrady became the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2001 and won the NBA scoring title in 2003 and 2004 with scoring averages of 32.1 and 28 points per game respectively. McGrady was also a seven-time NBA all-star but retired from the NBA in August of 2013.
While McGrady’s career is over, though it was outstanding, his cousin Vince Carter is now in his 21st season in the Association. While Carter has never won a scoring title, he has had his share of scoring exploits over the years. He is currently ranked 26th all-time in scoring in the NBA, just 51 points behind Jerry West.
Carter has left us with his electric 2000 slam dunk contest victory at the All-Star festivities that year. Carter, like cousin T-Mac, will almost assuredly be honored in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
#3 Klay and Mychal Thompson
Klay Thompson has been starring in the NBA for the Golden State Warriors since he was drafted by them in 2011, after three collegiate seasons for the Washington State Cougars.
Since then, the 6’7 shooting guard has become a three-time NBA champion and a 4 time NBA All-star. He has managed to carve out his own space in the conversation for best sharpshooters in the game. His career averages of 19.2 ppg and shooting field goal average of 45.8% overall and 42.2% from the 3-point arc (coming into this season) for his career is outstanding.
His success is made even more remarkable by the fact that Golden State employs stars like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Andre Iguodala, and Draymond Green. He plays with a lot of superstars of the game and fits right in. For example in the Western Conference Final last season with Houston already up 3-2 and winning game 6 by 17 points, Thompson knocked down 9 three-pointers for 27 of his 35 points to help Golden State stay alive, winning game 6 of that series 115-86.
Thompson’s five three-pointers in a win over the Sacramento Kings back on October of 2018 helped put him 21 st all-time on the 3 point shots made list.
However, before Klay Thompson began entertaining us with his sharpshooting his father Mychal Thompson had a successful 13 year NBA career. Mychal Thompson, a 6’10 center played for the Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Lakers between 1979-1991.
Like his son, after him, Mychal Thompson won the NBA championships with the Lakers in 1987 and 1988. The Thompson’s are now the 4th father-son duo to win NBA Championships but are the only ones to do it back to back (Mychal 1987-88 and Klay in 2017and 2018). In his career season, Mychal Thompson averaged 13.7 ppg. and 7.4rpg.over 935 NBA contests.
#4 The Curry Family
The patriarch of this family is Dell Curry. At age 54 he is a color commentator for the Charlotte Hornets. Drafted at number 15 by the Utah Jazz in the 1986 NBA Draft Dell Curry played for the Jazz, Cavaliers, Charlotte Hornets, Milwaukee Bucks, and Toronto Raptors in his career.
A prospect who played college ball for Virginia Tech, Dell Curry compiled a scoring average of 11.7 points per game over his career in which he played in 1,083 games. He was recognized in 1994 as the NBA’s 6th man of the year when he averaged 16.3 ppg for the Charlotte Hornets. Dell Curry was known for a very accurate shot and a super quick release. He did not need much space or time to let shots fly.
Its no wonder then that one of his sons, Stephen Curry can shoot the lights out and with unlimited range. The 30-year-old point guard was considered too small for the NBA but the 6’3 190lb superstar has become a three-time NBA Champion, an NBA scoring champion in 2016, a two time NBA Most Valuable Player award winner in 2015 and 2016, and the NBA leader in steals for 2016.
He has earned a number of other distinctions but his 10 year NBA career is not over with more chapters to be written as he and the Warriors attempt to three-peat as NBA Champions this year. Before the start of this season, Curry has a scoring average of 23.1 ppg on 47.7% shooting overall.
Stephen Curry’s younger brother Seth Curry is also in the NBA currently with the Portland Trailblazers. Seth, after leaving Duke University, has bounced around the NBA a bit having played for Memphis, Cleveland, Phoenix, Sacramento, Dallas, and now the Portland Trail Blazers. So far this season Seth Curry has played in 36 games averaging 17.4 minutes per game and 6 ppg.
#5 The Gasol Brothers
Pau and Marc Gasol were great national team players for their native land of Spain. After three years playing for FC Barcelona, it was Pau Gasol who made his way to the NBA first getting drafted 3rd overall in 2001 by the Atlanta Hawks who traded his draft rights to the Memphis Grizzlies for Shareef Abdur Rahim. The 7’0 center/power forward is now in his 19th NBA season currently a member of the San Antonio Spurs roster.
However, along the way he has been named a two time NBA Champion in 2009-10, a 6 time NBA all-star and the NBA rookie of the year in 2002. Besides his two NBA Titles won as a member of the Los Angeles Laker, Pau has a career average of 17.3 ppg. and 9.3 rpg.
He has played in 1208 NBA games so far. In addition to a good field goal percentage overall for his career at 50%, he has shot a solid 36.9% from behind the arc. Gasol brings an inside out approach to the game and is a skilled big man.
His brother Marc Gasol, 4 years younger at age 34 has spent his entire career in Memphis where his brother got his start. Marc Gasol averages 15.7 ppg. and 7.7rpg. over his 11 year career with the Grizzlies. Gasol was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 2007 who traded his rights to the Grizzlies. Together, the Gasol brothers have played 1,965 NBA games in the regular season and 30 NBA seasons.
#6 The Lopez Brothers
Brook and Robin Lopez both entered the NBA in the 2008 NBA draft. Brook was selected first at number 10 by the then-New Jersey Nets and Robin went 5 spots later at 15 to the Phoenix Suns.
Brook and Robin are both 7’0 270-pound centers. Brook has had the more distinguished career with 17.6ppg. and 6.6rpg. for his career. Now playing for his 4th team in 11 years, (currently with the Milwaukee Bucks), Brook Lopez has reinvented his game.
A large center he has always been physical around the basket in terms of low post play and rebounding. Brook added a three-point shot to his repertoire of skill sets and it's just deadly accurate. He has shot 34.6%, 34.5%, and 37.4% from behind the arc starting two seasons ago and including this season.
Robin Lopez, since being drafted, has been a solid role player. He has career averages 8.9 ppg and 5.3rpg. Robin also averages 1.2 blocks per game as well. Since being drafted by Phoenix, he has also played for the New Orleans Hornets (now Pelicans), Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks and is now in his third year with the Chicago Bulls. At age 30, Robin has seen his minutes per game get cut down to 16.4 from 26.4 minutes per game last year.
#7 The Bryant Family
One of the greatest all-time NBA players is the offspring of one Joe “Jellybean” Bryant who was drafted by the Golden State Warriors 14th overall in the 1975 NBA Draft. He played in 606 NBA games for the Philadelphia 76ers, the San Diego Clippers and the Houston Rockets. He was a member of the 1976-77 76ers squad that competed for the NBA title losing to the Portland Trail Blazers.
After his final NBA season in 1983 with Houston, Bryant sought basketball employment overseas playing 7 seasons in Europe. After his playing days, he entered the coaching ranks where he has had two stints as the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks head coach
Without diminishing his basketball playing and coaching careers Joe Bryant’s greatest contribution to basketball is his offspring known as the “black mamba”, one Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant was drafted by the Charlotte Hornets and sent to the Los Angeles Lakers for center Vlade Divac.
Kobe Bryant brought championship basketball back to the Lakers in the early 2000s. Overall Kobe Bryant would help the Lakers win 5 NBA Championships 2000-2002 and again in 2009 and 20010.
Kobe Bryant was an 18 time NBA all-star, a 2 time NBA Finals MVP, 2008’s Most Valuable Player and he was a 4 time NBA All-Star Game MVP. Kobe Bryant ended his career as the 3rd highest scorer all-time in the NBA with 33,643 points.
One of his greatest scoring outburst came against the Toronto Raptors in 2006 when he torched the Raptors for 81 points. Kobe Bryant played 20 years, 1346 regular season games and 220 playoff games with a scoring average of 25 ppg.
#8 The Barry Family
Rick Barry is the patriarch of an NBA family that has brought fans a lot of great basketball. Now 74 years old, the 6’7 205 pounds small forward was drafted way back in 1965 by the then San Francisco Warriors 2nd overall. In a career that spanned 15 years, Barry lit up the score sheets in both the NBA and ABA.
His NBA scoring average was 23.2 ppg. He also dished 5.1 apg. and grabbed 6.7 rpg. In all, he played in 794 NBA games. Barry was an offensive beast during his time. He was an ABA Champion in 1969 and an NBA Champion and Finals MVP in 1975. Barry was an 8 time NBA All-Star and a 4 time ABA All-Star.
Rick Barry had 4 male children. They are Scooter, Drew, Brent, and Jon Barry. All four of his boys wound up playing basketball. Scooter Barry won titles in the CBA (The Continental Basketball Association). Drew Barry was drafted in 1996 in the second round 57th overall by the Seattle Supersonics. Drew Barry would play for the Fort Wayne Fury in the CBA and for the Supersonics, Hawks and Golden State Warriors between 1997-2000.
Brent Barry played in the NBA from 1995-2009. During that time he suited up for the Clippers, Heat, Bulls, Supersonics, Spurs, and Rockets. Brent played 912 NBA games with a scoring average of 9.3ppg.
Brent would join his father in winning NBA titles as a member of the Spurs in 2005 and 2007. Brent was originally drafted by the Denver Nuggets 15th overall in 1995 but was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Brent Barry, a 6’7 shooting guard had hops too. He won the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest in the NBA.
Jon Barry was drafted 21st overall in 1992 by the Boston Celtic. He was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks. Jon Barry, a 6’4 shooting guard played 16 NBA seasons and in 821 NBA games. He was primarily a backup guard never actually playing more than an average of 24 minutes per game which he did in the 2001-02 season.
#9 The Walton Family
Bill Walton played collegiate basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 1971-1974 before he was made the #1 pick at the 1974 NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. Walton a 6’11 center would win two NBA titles in his 10 seasons in the NBA.
He was also named the Finals MVP during the 1977 NBA Finals leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the title. His second title came in 1986 as a member of the Boston Celtics when he also won the sixth man award that year.
Walton was also named the NBA’s MVP for 1978, was a 2-time all-star and was the blocks and rebounding leader in the NBA for 1977. He finished his career with a 13.3 ppg. average and 10.5 rpg. average. After retirement, Bill Walton has been an NBA color commentator on CBS, NBC, ESPN, and ABC. Since 2012 he has been a basketball commentator for the PAC-!2 collegiate network.
His son Luke Walton was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Lakers. Luke, like his father, has won two NBA titles as a member of the 2009 and 2010 Los Angeles Lakers. Always a role player, Luke Walton carved out an 11-year career playing for the Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers. While Luke’s career totals are not impressive, there is much to be said for a player who can stay in the Association for 11 seasons.
Luke Walton was an assistant coach with the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors. Further, during the Warriors record-setting season with 73 wins, Walton coached more games 43 than head coach Steve Kerr at 39. Since the 2016-17 NBA season, Walton has been the head coach of the Los Angeles Lakers.
#10 The King Brothers
Bernard King was drafted 7th overall in 1977 by the then New York Nets who later became the New Jersey Nets. Bernard King was a 6’7 small forward who became a 4 time NBA All-Star. King also was the NBA scoring champion in 1985.
He played 14 seasons for the Nets, Jazz, Warriors, Knicks, Bullets(now the Wizards), and ended his career in 1993 playing for the Nets again. During his career, he averaged 22.5 ppg on 51.8% field goal shooting.
While playing for the Knicks in 1985 Bernard King suffered what should have been a career-ending injury. He tore his knee cartilage, ACL and broke a bone in his right leg. In 1985 he was averaging 32.9 ppg. when the injury occurred. He missed the following season and only managed to play in 6 games in the 1986-87 season.
His younger brother was a highly touted prospect out of the University of Maryland. Albert King was also drafted 10th overall in 1981 by the New Jersey Nets. Albert King spent 9 years of his 11-year career in the NBA with a 12.1 ppg. average.
After 6 seasons in New Jersey, he spent one season each with Philadelphia, San Antonio and wound up his career after one season in Washington. In 1989 after the NBA season he signed with Italian basketball club Olimpia Milano winning a title there.
There are a number of other families that have put in outstanding work in the NBA. Dominique and Gerald Wilkins, Ed and George Mikan, Horace and Harvey Grant, Jim and John Paxton, and Chuck and Wesley Person are just a few of the other families considered when thinking about this topic.
This was by no means an exhaustive list and was compiled in no particular order. However, it was an interesting look at past and present stars of the NBA and how the Association among other sports leagues fish in the same pool over and over looking for talent. In this case, it’s the same gene pool.
Guess the Lakers players!
