History of Father-Son Duos in Sports: LeBron and Bronny James Will Join Griffeys, Others in Exclusive Club

For LeBron James, who has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish as an NBA player, the mission will be complete on Tuesday night.

James is expected to share the floor with his son Bronny, making the pair the first father-son duo in NBA history to play together.

The experiment may not last long, as James is not expected to be on the Lakers’ roster this season and may spend most of the year in the G League. But as Bronny’s development takes off and his father’s career draws ever closer, their time together on the court will be a monumental moment for basketball.

They may be the first to achieve this feat in the NBA, but there have already been crossovers between father and son in other sports. Here’s a look at the father-son duos who played together in a major American professional sports league.

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Father-son duos in sports

Many father-son duos have played at different times, from the Manning family of the NFL to the Hull family of the NHL. Only a few actually overlapped:

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr.

Ken Griffey Sr. joined his son Ken Griffey Jr. on the Seattle Mariners in 1990. The younger Griffey was drafted in 1989 and earned his first All-Star selection in 1990 before his father was released by the Reds and decided to write a piece of MLB history by signing with the Mariners.

The Griffeys played 51 games together over two seasons, making their duo particularly memorable when they hit back-to-back home runs on September 14, 1990.

Father and son combined to hit 782 career home runs, 630 of which came from the younger Griffey’s hit. When his career ended, Griffey Jr. was a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and only injuries prevented him from at least contending for the all-time home run record.

MORE: Details on when Ken Griffey Jr. played alongside his father

Gordie Howe, Mark Howe and Marty Howe

NHL legend Gordie Howe played in the league for five decades, so it was only natural that he got the chance to share the ice with his sons Mark and Marty.

Their time together came during the 1979-80 season with the Hartford Whalers, when the elder Howe was 52 – yes, 52 years old. Gordie scored 41 points on 15 goals and 26 assists in 80 games, while Mark was the Whalers’ best defender, scoring 80 points on 24 goals and 56 assists.

Marty appeared in only six games, but played alongside his father and brother in the World Hockey Association in the years leading up to the Whalers’ transition to the NHL.

Ironically, Bobby Hull played nine games for the Whalers in the same season his career was nearing its end. He and his son Brett were both inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Tim Raines and Tim Raines Jr.

Baseball Hall of Famer Tim Raines played four games with his son Tim Raines Jr. as members of the Orioles in 2001.

The elder Raines emerged as a top player in four different decades, and his brief reunion with his son in Baltimore was intentional. The Expos traded Raines Sr. to the Orioles at the very end of the season so the pair could play together.

Raines Jr. played 75 MLB games, all with the Orioles. He hit .213 with a .544 OPS and spent his final five professional seasons in the minor leagues with five different organizations.

Interestingly, Raines Jr. never hit an MLB home run, while his father hit one during his four-game stint with the Orioles.

MORE: LeBron James and Chris Paul headline oldest NBA players

LeBron James and Bronny James

Bronny James is expected to play alongside his father in the Lakers’ season opener against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, marking a first in NBA history.

Bronny was selected 55th overall in June’s NBA draft after a difficult freshman season at USC. Bronny, a highly touted high school recruit, is more of a developmental project right now and is unlikely to see a spot in the NBA again this season after Tuesday’s opener.

The Lakers’ hope is to develop Bronny into a long-term role player who wants to round out his offensive game alongside his solid defensive skills.

Bronny recently turned 19, while LeBron is expected to turn 40 in December.