As anticipated, the subject of nepotism got here up through the broadcast of the 2024 NBA Draft because the inevitable collection of Bronny James by the Los Angeles Lakers neared. And with Bronny’s agent, Wealthy Paul, reportedly telling any staff attempting to draft him that LeBron James’ son will play in Australia if he’s chosen in opposition to 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 residence: Anybody crying about nepotism influencing the Bronny choose 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 correct. 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 gifted participant as a favor to maintain their extra heralded sibling completely satisfied. 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 workplaces regularly populated with the progeny of earlier execs… to not point out, typically, the house owners’ children as properly.
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 choose, or even a lottery choice. And even after a largely underwhelming season at USC, our personal Ricky O’Donnell nonetheless gave the Lakers’ collection of him a B grade:
James’ freshman yr 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 robust chest, and mentality for a task participant. James isn’t an enormous 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 barely distinctive nepotism by NBA requirements in a single sense: We’ve actually by no means seen an NBA participant ok, for lengthy sufficient, to not solely play with or in opposition to their son, however to be gifted sufficient nonetheless to push their staff to draft him.
However whereas LeBron and Bronny are 1/1 in that respect, relations 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.