Bronny James was drafted as the 55th pick in the second round by the Lakers.
The second round of the NBA draft has taken the basketball world by storm. Despite expecting such a move, fans were yet shocked after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted Bronny James. The news has received both positive and negative reactions so far. Some are thrilled to watch the father-son duo play together, but others have criticized Bronny for nepotism.
It is certainly not a surprise to see Bronny James receiving backlash for getting drafted by the Lakers for being LeBron James‘ son. However, considering the league’s history, veteran Insider Adrian Wojnarowski was upset at the criticism. While discussing the second round on ESPN, Woj defended Bronny for ‘nepotism’ claims.
I don't wanna hear these charges, people talking about nepotism. The NBA is full of nepotism. The ownership level, front offices, coaching. I don't want to hear about it all of a sudden because Bronny James' father plays for the Lakers. It is rampant in this league.Adrian Wojnarowski via ESPN
Some of the biggest stars in the NBA are a product of nepotism. The Doc Rivers – Austin Rivers relationship remains a prominent example. Many players have had it easier to get in the league considering their famous athlete dads. Hence, the criticism towards Bronny seemed unfair to Wojnarowski.
James Jr. receiving different treatment might be because James is still active in the league. Recruiting Bronny will allow James to play with his son, which has not happened in the past. However, considering that James will be beside Bronny, the 19-year-old will be compared more prominently than the other nepotism players. All the attention would certainly be on Bronny during his rookie season.
Colin Cowherd also defended Bronny James from nepotism backlash
Nepotism is certainly not limited to the NBA. The tradition follows almost every field where the parents want the best for their children. However, Bronny has received criticism for nepotism ever since he announced that he would enter the NBA draft back in April. Like Adrian Wojnarowski, at the time, Colin Cowherd had Bronny’s back.
During an episode of Fox’s The Herd, the host discussed the double standards for Bronny. Cowherd talked about how connections matter in every field. The host cited basketball examples such as Dan Hurley‘s son and Thanasis Antetokounmpo. Cowherd called out the normalized nepotism to defend Bronny.
