KEY POINTS

  • JR Smith's younger sibling also played for the New York Knicks
  • Mychel Thompson, older brother of Klay, only played five games for the Cavs
  • CJ McCollum's older brother Errick set a new scoring record in China

Some fans may have never heard about them, but there were former NBA players who didn't become as famous as their brothers in the league.

Here is a list of cagers who made it to the aforementioned basketball league but never tasted a fair amount of reverence like their superstar siblings.

Chris Smith

JR Smith has always been one of the most polarizing figures in the NBA. Almost every season, there’s seems to be something up with him.

He has had his fair share of controversies throughout his pro basketball career, but at the same time, he’s also a two-time NBA champion.

While JR ended up becoming a star in the league, his younger brother Chris did not draw too much attention.

Chris went undrafted in 2012, joining the New York Knicks to play in the Summer League. Unlike JR, he just wasn’t well-rounded to be in the NBA and eventually ended up being waived.

The 33-year-old is currently a free agent after several failed stints in the G-League and Europe.

JR Smith New York Knicks
Knicks guard J.R. Smith, middle, has some tough competition in the Sixth Man Of The Year race. Reuters

Zoran Dragic

Goran Dragic is now considered one of the most notable point guards in the NBA. Surprisingly, he and his sibling Zoran actually played together as teammates for the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat for a short period of time.

With his craftiness, Goran soon made his mark in the NBA after a few seasons. Meanwhile, Zoran only managed to play a total of 28 games in the league.

At present, Zoran is still a professional basketball player in Spain, playing as a shooting guard for Kirolbet Baskonia.

Mychel Thompson

Despite being injured, Klay Thompson is still one of the most lethal shooters in the NBA today. Alongside Stephen Curry, he became the face of the revamped Golden State Warriors who have won championships in recent years.

However, some, probably besides die-hard Klay fans, may not know that his older brother Mychel, actually played “5 games” for the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2011-12 season.

Mychel continued his basketball career in the G-League, and like Klay, he was also a "Warrior" as he played his final games with the Santa Cruz Warriors.

The Collins Twins

Jason and Jarron Collins were never looked at as luminaries during their playing years in the NBA. In fact, the former only generated buzz in 2013 after he officially became the first active player to come out as “gay.”

After the shocking revelation of his twin brother, Jarron also briefly gained some popularity, appearing on live TV shows and doing a couple of exclusive interviews.

Jason Collins
NBA center Jason Collins has become a spokesman for gay rights since he publicly came out in May. Reuters

Errick McCollum

CJ McCollum is currently playing some of the best seasons of his NBA career with the Portland Trail Blazers.

Last season, he averaged 22 points per game and is known to be one of the most versatile players in the league today.

However, CJ’s older brother Errick, who went undrafted in 2010, was arguably a better basketball player.

To put this into context, Errick has won 1 EuroCup with 1 EuroCup MVP award and even scored 82 points in one game to set a new CBA record.