While the biggest crowds are coming out to see Lakers rookie Bronny James, the Las Vegas Summer League features a number of players with NBA dads.
DJ Rodman, son of Hall of Famer Dennis Rodman, got in for the final three minutes of the Los Angeles Clippers’ 87-78 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.
In a tribute to his dad’s rebounding prowess, he grabbed three boards in those three minutes. As a tribute to his father’s shooting, he also air-balled a three-pointer.
James may have ended up on the Lakers because of his famous father, but he’s not an exception. The NBA is a family business, where players’ kids become players and coaches’ kids become coaches. At Summer League, where teams are often scrambling to fill the ends of rosters, that’s especially true.
Ron Harper Jr., whose father played with Rodman on the Chicago Bulls, joined the Celtics summer team. Scotty Pippen Jr. had 16 points for the Grizzlies summer team Friday, though as far we know, neither Bill Wennington nor Luc Longley have children on Summer League rosters.
Jameer Nelson Jr. is on the Spurs for the Vegas season, while the Warriors are playing Dale Davis’ son, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and Anthony Carter’s son, Devin, plays for the Kings. The Rockets started A.J. Griffin, who is the son of a former player who is also a coach, a double leg up.
The only difference is Bronny James’ incredible popularity, which has made Lakers games a bigger event than any others in Vegas. Even a matchup between No. 2 pick Alex Sarr and No. 3 pick Reed Sheppard had plenty of empty seats in Thomas & Mack Center and a quiet crowd compared to the excitement any time James touched the ball.
So James may have inherited fame from his superstar father, but as far as Summer League playing time, plenty of NBA kids are welcome.