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Part of what makes LeBron James an all-time great is his longevity. Over the past two decades, he has been one of the most dominant forces in the NBA.
While hanging around for 20+ years is an impressive feat, it comes with some awkward situations. LeBron James stumbled into one this week during a matchup against the Houston Rockets.
At one point in the game, rookie Jabar Smith Jr. found himself matched up with LeBron. He took the opportunity to tell the LA Lakers star that James played against his father in his first NBA game. Jabar Smith played four seasons in the league and suited up for the Sacramento Kings, Philadelphia 76ers, and New Jersey Nets.
Following the encounter, one fan found a clip from LeBron's show "Uninterrupted." While talking about playing against father-son duos, rapper Jay-Z said he needs to start talking trash to the new generation.
"Don't feel so bad, I bust your dad's ass too."
How many father-son duos has LeBron James played against in his career?
You'd think that instances LeBron James had with Jabari Smith Jr. are rare, but that isn't the case. Over the years, there have been nine father-son duos that have had to suit up against the four-time MVP.
In fact, there is another player on the Houston Rockets itself whose father also played against LeBron. Before battling Kenyon Martin Jr., the LA Lakers star faced off against Kenyon Martin during his time with the New Jersey Nets and Denver Nuggets.
Other duos include Gary Trent and Gary Trent Jr., Gary Payton and Gary Payton II, Rick and Jalen Brunson, and Glenn Robinson and Glenn Robinson III.
Facts like this are a true testament to LeBron's career. His reign in the NBA truly spans generations. Few players have been able to stick around long enough to accomplish a feat like this.
Going against father-son pairings jokingly makes LeBron James feel old, but his longevity will soon allow him to make history. As Bronny James gets closer to being draft eligible, he has constantly brought up how he wants to share the floor with his oldest son.
Not only will this be a feel-good moment for the James family, but history in the NBA as well. Never has a father-son duo taken to the floor together as teammates. The closest it has ever gotten is a coach-player pairing when Doc Rivers coached Austin Rivers during his tenure with the LA Clippers.
Guess the Lakers players!
