LeBron James' unique experience playing against fathers and sons in the NBA

LeBron James has been at the pinnacle of basketball for over 20 years since he arrived in the NBA in 2003.

After playing for such a long time, James has had a unique experience, unlike many other NBA players, competing against fathers and their sons.

Let's look through the years at the time 'The King' experienced these unique circumstances.

Two-time All-Star Glenn 'Big Dog' Robinson faced LeBron James in his rookie year on December 19th, 2003. James had arguably his greatest game of the season, scoring 36 points whilst Robinson dropped 18 points in the Cleveland win.

Glenn Robinson III had a career game against James, outscoring him 25 points to 22 in 31 minutes off the bench for the Philadelphia 76ers on March 3, 2020.

The only Hall of Fame father James has had to face on this list is Gary Payton. LeBron competed against Payton for the first time in January 2004, when Payton scored a team-high 13 points for a star-studded Lakers team. James scored 16 points in the Cavs' loss.

LeBron faced Payton's son for the first time on opening night in October 2021. The future Hall of Famer would have much more success against Payton II, scoring 34 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

'The King' faced bruiser Gary Trent in Trent's final year in the NBA, losing to his Timberwolves side in November 2003. Trent scored two off the bench and James scored 19 in the loss.

The NBA legend faced Trent Jr for the first time on December 28, 2019, in Trent Jr's rookie year for the Portland Trail Blazers. LeBron had a monster night, scoring 21 points and dishing out 16 assists, while Trent Jr scored three points

In James' first game against Rick Brunson on December 20, 2003, LeBron scored 32 points and dished out ten assists, toppling Rick's Bulls 95-87.

Now playing at an All-Star level for the New York Knicks, Jalen Brunson's first game against LeBron James wasn't incredible. James faced Rick's son Jalen for the first time in October 2018, scoring 29 points, whilst Jalen Brunson only managed four off the bench.

LeBron James faced Kenyon Martin in his only All-Star season, playing for the New Jersey Nets in 2004. Martin produced an all-star performance, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. James scored 14 points in the loss.

Martin Jr's performance wasn't outstanding, scoring no points off the bench for the Houston Rockets against James and the Lakers in January 2021. The Lakers forward put up 18 points and produced seven rebounds and assists.

Jabari Smith met LeBron James in his opening NBA game as a rookie in October 2003. However, the 6ft11 center didn't even take his tracksuit off to play in the game.

Despite Jabari Smith Jr's best attempts to make James feel old, LeBron arguably had the best game of his 20^th season so far, scoring 48 points in January 2023.

Three-time All-Star Glen Rice met James in his final season with the Clippers on November 18, 2003. Rice scored three points in six minutes, while James scored 14 in Cleveland's win.

Almost ten years later, LeBron met Glen Rice Jr on November 3, 2013. Whilst Rice Jr didn't play that night, James scored 25 points and dished out five assists, playing for Miami.

LeBron's first matchup against Samari Walker was in April 2004 in a loss to the Heat. Walker scored two points in eight minutes, while James scored a game-high 24 for the Cavs.

James played against his son Jabari in a matchup for the Lakers against the Portland Trail Blazers in November 2022, scoring another game-high 31 points, and Jabari followed his dad by scoring two off the bench.

LeBron James faced the older Griffin in February 2004 for the Cavs against Houston. Griffin didn't register a point, but James scored eleven in a Houston win.

'King' James faced AJ Griffin on his 38^th birthday (December 30, 2022) in a Lakers win against the Atlanta Hawks. AJ scored 13, while James produced 47 points, ten rebounds, and nine assists.