Examining the Role of Father-Son Bonds in NBA Business and Culture on Father’s Day

What day of the year holds the most significance for NBA employees?

There’s no denying the excitement of opening night. Even though Christmas Day is a popular holiday for viewers and broadcasters, it is still a working day. Even though an NBA Finals Game 7 is a once-in-a-generation event, its ripple effects are limited.

Most people will say Father’s Day.

The father-son dynamic permeates almost every aspect of the league, from individual teams to the league as a whole. The NBA is a high-visibility, high-paying, and occasionally enjoyable place to work. And it seems to be infectious, as many sons have followed their fathers into the industry.

The recently concluded NBA Finals were one of the best examples ever, since both the champion Golden State Warriors and the runner-up Boston Celtics had extensive father-son NBA connections.

Six participants in the series had NBA-playing fathers. Steph Curry (son of Dell), Klay Thompson (son of Mychal), Gary Payton II (son of Gary), and Andrew Wiggins (son of Mitchell) all play for the Warriors. The Celtics have Tito Horford’s son Al and Frank Kornet’s son Luke playing for them.

“I feel very grateful to have my dad with me at the games, just around,” said Al Horford, whose father played three seasons in the NBA. Obviously, someone with prior experience in the game. Not here, although she is no stranger to the game. As a basketball player, he gets it.

During the series, it has been typical to see the old players walking around the court and even talking trαsh about their sons.

Wiggins’s father played in the league for six years, and he was seen beaming with pride on the floor in the moments after the Warriors clinched the title in Game 6 on Friday night. “[My family] have been to almost every game in the playoffs, but it’s been amazing to be able to share this experience with them,” Wiggins said.

We have gaming discussions, and he generally lends a hand.

The Golden State Warriors get a head start thanks to the players’ dads. The Santa Cruz Warriors of the G League are coached in part by Steve Kerr’s son Nick. Kurt and Kent Lacob, sons of team owner Joe Lacob, work in the front office. Mike Dunleavy Jr., the vice president, comes from a family of athletes and coaches and executives. The son of legendary NBA coach Del Harris, Larry Harris works as an assistant general manager. Jonnie West, the son of NBA legend Jerry West, serves as the team’s director of professional scouting.

Austin Ainge is the son of former Celtics president and player Danny Ainge, and now serves as the team’s associate general manager.

Around 30 current NBA players are the offspring of past NBA stars. More yet have relatives who have played professionally overseas, either as uncles or cousins.

J.B. Bickerstaff (Cleveland Cavaliers), Stephen Silas (Houston Rockets), Wes Unseld Jr. (Washington Wizards), Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets), and Erik Spoelstra (Miami Heat) are the only current NBA head coaches whose fathers did not play, coach, or work in the NBA. Many of the NBA’s assistant coaches and scouts have illustrious family names.

It’s not uncommon for families like the Lacobs to have multiple members work in the company. Six sons and daughters have taken over as team governors. The offspring of some of the other owners are involved in basketball and business activities. Stockton Kings assistant general manager Anjali Ranadive is the daughter of Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadive.

Younger generations are also making appearances in the workforce. Some of the current NBA stars bring their young children to games in 2022, especially during the playoffs. Deuce Tatum, Jayson’s kid, has been a constant presence during the Celtics’ postseason run. Deuce was born in 2017, the same year Tatum was picked third overall by the Boston Celtics, and Tatum considers having Deuce as a part of his legacy at the high-stakes games.

I spend all my time with him. Tatum, whose father, Justin, played collegiate basketball at Saint Louis University, stated, “Because I was 19 when I got drafted, it’s kind of like we’re growing up together.” “As he’s gotten older, I’ve been progressing through my career; we’ve been sharing these experiences as we grow up together.”

The current crop of NBA stars, like their predecessors, are introducing their offspring to professional basketball at an early age in the hopes of inspiring the next generation to follow in their footsteps.LeBron James has made it clear that he wants his son Bronny to play in the NBA. If Bronny chooses the one-and-done option, that could happen as soon as the 2024–25 season. It’s possible that they’ll be the first father-son combination to play together on the same court.

After a high school basketball game in Columbus, Ohio, in December 2019, LeBron James was spotted with his son Bronny.Photo by Jay LaPrete/AP

Draymond Green took his three kids out on stage with him to celebrate the Warriors’ Game 6 victory. When the Warriors won the 2015 championship, he was still too young to be a father and often grew impatient with all the photos being taken of him on the way to the team celebration. This time, though, he spent about an hour in the green arena of his opponent on a late Friday night, posing with his loved ones.

You just know that chances like this don’t come along very frequently. Green emphasized the importance of savoring such moments and sharing them with those closest to you. My three kids, ages seven, five, and one, are the light of my life, and I want nothing more than to share these experiences with them. You necessitate the visuals, I understand. You can only hope they remember this when they’re 15!