Iconic Basketball Players Raising The Next Generation
The popularity and significance of basketball increased gradually but steadily in the United States and abroad in the first three decades following World War II. Exposure to television increased interest in the game, but the introduction of cable television—particularly in the 1980s—led to an explosion in the game’s popularity on all fronts. With the help of a fortunate combination of exceptional athletes—like Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Julius Erving (“Dr. J”), Earvin (“Magic”) Johnson, and others—and significantly more publicity, basketball swiftly overtook more established sports like football and baseball to take the lead in American sports.
Based on income earned in 2009 (2.7 billion Euros), basketball, as represented by the NBA, accounted for around 6% of the worldwide sports market, according to consulting company A.T. Kearney. Conversely, soccer accounted for 19.5 billion euros, a whopping 43 percent of the market. Also, that’s why the popularity of most gambling and betting sites is now generally acceptable like the ones found on BonusFinder New Zealand.
The NBA’s star power gives it a considerable advantage over most other major sports leagues. None of the other North American teams can match the rosters of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant, to mention a few, as global stars.
But even the best names in the NBA can’t compete with their soccer rivals on that scale. International soccer stars make up the top five athletes on social media, according to Fan Page List. With over 127 million followers on both Facebook and Twitter, Cristiano Ronaldo has amassed a larger fan base than the combined totals of Bryant, James, Durant, and Michael Jordan.
LeBron James Jr.
LeBron James Jr., better known by his nickname Bronny, is the NBA player’s son. LeBron Jr., a prospect for the Class of 2023, is transferring as a freshman for the 2019–20 season to Sierra Canyon High School. He previously attended the K–12 elite Crossroads School for Arts and Science.
Sports Illustrated claims that James began receiving college offers when he was just ten years old, which his father claimed was a “violation.”
LeBron Jr. reportedly had “standing scholarship offers” from Duke University and the University of Kentucky, according to an ESPN article from 2016.
Shareef O’Neal
Son of NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal, Shareef O’Neal is a medical redshirt freshman on the men’s basketball team at the University of California, Los Angeles.
O’Neal decommitted from the University of Arizona after initially committing there but failing to sign an official letter of intent. He made his official commitment in May and subsequently signed with UCLA in August of 2018.
O’Neal missed the 2018–19 Bruins season because of a cardiac ailment that the team’s physicians had identified. In December, he underwent successful heart surgery, and four months later, in March 2019, he declared himself cleared to play.
Stephen and Seth Curry
Dell Curry, the all-time leader in points (9,839) and three-pointers (929) for the Charlotte Hornets, is the father of Steph and Seth Curry.
The game has been revolutionized, according to Steph Curry. His consistent three-point shooting from the start of his career has inspired other teams to follow suit. In addition to winning two NBA MVP awards and six All-Star selections, he has three NBA Championships with the Golden State Warriors.
The Dallas Mavericks and Seth Curry most recently agreed to a four-year, $32 million contract. During the 2018–19 NBA season, he was ranked as the Portland Trail Blazers’ third-best 3-point shooter (45%).
Arvydas Sabonis: Domantas Sabonis
Domantas joined the NBA a little more than ten years after retiring. In contrast to his father, who might or might not have had his abilities suppressed by the Soviet Union, Domantas—or Domas, as his family refers to him—has been able to truly display his athleticism. While playing in Spain, the 6-foot-11 power forward caught the attention of Gonzaga University coaches. In 2016, the Orlando Magic selected him as the 11th overall choice at the age of 20, and he was later traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Domantas was selected to the elite All-Star squad in 2020 and 2021, making him a two-time NBA All-Star.
When asked if he saw any similarities between his legendary father and himself, Domantas told NBA.com, “I don’t see any.” However, my family and my dad’s buddies, who grew up watching my dad play, claim to have noticed an absurd amount of parallels.”
Klay Thompson
As a former NBA player, Mychal Thompson witnessed his son Klay Thompson, who possessed exceptional shooting and defensive skills, become an indispensable member of the Warriors’ championship-winning squads alongside Stephen Curry.
These current NBA players have carried on their fathers’ traditions by displaying their special talents and adding to the rich history of the sport. Also, upcoming players would want to emulate the spirit and pass on the culture to their children.
