When a former professional athlete retires, their next focus is often times supporting their children in their athletic endeavors. But often times their child is unable to live up to their parent’s greatness. However, there is always a chance for children of former athletes to make a bigger impact on the game than their parent. In the game of basketball, this isn’t a rare occurrence. Just look at the Bryant, Thompson, and Curry families.
Here are 7 super talented College Basketball players who are sons of NBA players.
7. Bobby Hurley Jr.
Sticking within the Pac-12 Conference, Arizona State’s Bobby Hurley Jr. has only appeared in 12 college games, and a question has risen of whether or not ASU head basketball coach Bobby Hurley has kept his son around for the sole reason that he is the coach’s kid. The Hurley family’s roots run deep into basketball. Bobby Hurley played college basketball at Duke and was a two-time NCAA Champion. Upon making the NBA, Hurley played five years as a rotational player, but never started more than 22 games in a season. Bobby Hurley is now the head coach at Arizona State where his son Bobby Hurley Jr. now plays. Bobby Hurley’s father, Bob Hurley Sr. is a well decorated basketball coach at St. Anthony High School in New jersey, where he collected 26 state titles with the team. Needless to say, this family knows their way around a basketball court.
6. DJ Rodman
D.J Rodman played his first four years of college basketball for Washington State University, as a member of the Pac-12 conference. There, in 2021 under coach Kyle Smith Rodman assisted WSU in achieving their first winning season in a decade. After becoming a standout forward, DJ Rodman announced his intentions to return to WSU for the 2023-24 season, but then entered the transfer portal and committed to the University of Southern California at the end of the season. DJ is the son of former forward Dennis Rodman who was known for his intense personality and outstanding defense. DJ Rodman is entering his final year of NCAA eligibility and will add solid depth to an already star-studded USC roster.
5. Jett and Jace Howard
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Jett and Jace Howard are the sons of Former Michigan Fab-Five member Juwan Howard. Juwan played basketball for the University of Michigan before becoming the first NBA player to ever be offered a 100-million-dollar contract in 1996. Jace Howard has been a Guard for his father’s alma mater since 2021, and has appeared in 55 games, appearing in a career high 30 games last year. His little brother, Jett Howard has made an instant impact for the Michigan Wolverines as a freshman. Jett Howard was selected 11th overall in the previous NBA Draft, and there are large expectations for him to perform at a high level with the Orlando Magic.
4. Larry Hughes Jr.
Larry Hughes Jr. is a Guard for the Saint Louis Billikens in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The 6’4 Guard was a freshman last year and appeared in 27 games, helping the team finish 10-6 in conference play. His father, Larry Hughes went to college at Saint Louis where his son currently plays. Hughes played 13 years in the NBA and spent time with eight different teams. His best season was the 1999-2000 season, where Hughes averaged 22.7 points per game. Hughes never stayed with a team for more than three years, yet he still put together a pretty good career for himself. His son is hoping to do that, and more.
3. Jaelen House
Jaelen House spent his first two years of college eligibility with the Arizona State Sun Devils, before hopping in the transfer portal and joining the New Mexico Lobos in 2021. After becoming the team’s third-leading scorer last season, House declared eligible for the NBA draft, but withdrew himself in favor of having one more year at New Mexico. His father, Eddie House attended Arizona State University, where Jaelen first committed to play. Eddie spent 11 years in the NBA and split his career between nine teams. Edie House won he 2008 NBA Championship as a member of the Boston Celtics and appeared in 78 games that season. His son, Jaelen is hoping to win his own NBA Championship someday to tie, and maybe even surpass his father.
2. Trayce Jackson-Davis
Trayce Jackson-Davis played basketball for the University of Indiana. The now graduated Senior Forward from Greenwood Indiana was one of the most talented players on the court, and throughout his time at Indiana became the school’s third all-time scorer. He was drafted by the Washington Wizards in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft but is yet to play in an NBA game. His father, Dale Davis played most of his career with the Indiana Pacers, and after a decade with the team that drafted him, Dale Davis spent four seasons with Portland, two with Detroit, and one with Golden state. Davis was an all-star during the 1999-2000 season, but never got as much hype as his son does now.
1. Bronny James
Come on, you knew who number one was going to be before you even started reading this list. Bronny James is yet to play an NCAA Basketball game, but after averaging 14 points, and 5.4 rebounds in his senior year of high school, he committed to the University of Southern California to stay close to his father while in college. James is probably the most hyped-up recruit in recent memory, and would have declared eligible for the draft is he didn’t need to spend a year in college. His father, LeBron James did alright for himself in the NBA. James has only made an All-Star appearance nineteen years in a row. He is also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, and arguably the greatest basketball player ever. But this raises the question of if Bronny James is actually as good as we hope, or if the only reason he has gained notoriety is due to his last name. Only time will tell.
