As anticipated, the subject of nepotism got here up throughout the broadcast of the 2024 NBA Draft because the inevitable number of Bronny James by the Los Angeles Lakers neared. And with Bronny’s agent, Wealthy Paul, reportedly telling any staff making an attempt to draft him that LeBron James’ son will play in Australia if he’s chosen towards his will, it’s no shock that some unfamiliar with how frequent that particular agent tactic is would get upset.
However NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski had a message for viewers watching ESPN at house: Anybody crying about nepotism influencing the Bronny decide ought to flip their eye to all the league, not simply LeBron James, Bronny and the Lakers.
“The NBA is stuffed with nepotism… I do not need to hear of it rapidly as a result of Bronny’s father performs for the Lakers. Nepotism is rampant on this league,” Woj says on TV
— Harrison Faigen (@hmfaigen) June 27, 2024
Woj is true. From Thanasis Antetokounmpo with the Bucks to Chris Smith with the Knicks again within the day, one can argue there are many circumstances of NBA roster spots all through historical past going to a barely much less proficient participant as a favor to maintain their extra heralded sibling blissful. And it’s not simply rosters: NBA teaching staffs are littered with sons of present or former head coaches (or even gamers’ fathers), and entrance places of work incessantly populated with the progeny of earlier execs… to not point out, typically, the homeowners’ children as nicely.
Plus, it’s not like Bronny is completely unqualified. Earlier to the cardiac arrest he suffered in 2023, he was extensively mocked as a first-round decide, or even a lottery choice. And even after a largely underwhelming season at USC, our personal Ricky O’Donnell nonetheless gave the Lakers’ number of him a B grade:
James’ freshman 12 months at USC began with a terrifying coronary heart episode early within the offseason, and he by no means actually discovered his footing after that. James is brief for a guard at 6’1.5 barefoot, however he has lengthy arms, a powerful chest, and a great mentality for a job participant. James isn’t a giant scorer, however he fights for unfastened balls, defends greater gamers, and areas the ground as a three-point shooter. He must shoot it at a excessive stage to stay within the NBA, however he’s proven sufficient at the highschool stage at Sierra Canyon to have an opportunity to stay.
None of that is to say nepotism is sweet. It’s simply to say that this example is just distinctive nepotism by NBA requirements in a single sense: We’ve actually by no means seen an NBA participant adequate, for lengthy sufficient, to not solely play with or towards their son, however to be proficient sufficient nonetheless to push their staff to draft him.
However whereas LeBron and Bronny are 1/1 in that respect, members of the family serving to one another get jobs within the NBA, both on a roster or within the teaching and government ranks? That’s nothing new, so we shouldn’t act like it’s.
