In news that can only be described as “I know that’s right!” Bronny James, eldest son of NBA superstar LeBron James, has now officially been drafted to the Los Angeles Lakers.
News of his selection (55th overall, to be exact) made waves both at the NBA Draft on Thursday and online as fans reacted to the fact that the father and son duo would now be playing for the same team. It marks the first time a father and son duo will play in the league at the same time and on the same team.
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While this realization was met with mostly praise, there were detractors who tried to argue that this move is a show of nepotism not worth the celebration.
“The Lakers drafting Bronny James is a bad idea. Beyond the obvious nepotism, I don’t think this is a good move for either of their careers,” wrote Marc Lamont Hill on X/Twitter, later adding: “Bronny James seems like a very nice, humble, well-raised child. I’m rooting for him. Getting drafted purely based on nepotism, ego, and corporate marketing interests will not help him maximize his potential or chart his own path.”
ESPN’s NBA Insider reporter Adrian Wojnarowski addressed the comment on television, saying: “I don’t want to hear the 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.”
“The Lakers draft Bronny James and now all of a sudden some people have a problem with nepotism,” said Baltimore Ravens star Robert Griffin III (RG3) on X/Twitter.
Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr. — who arguably benefited from nepotism when he played his father in the “Straight Outta Compton” biopic — also chimed in, writing on the platform: “Them Lebron James Sr. / Jr jerseys bouta be craaaaazy.”
“Bronny James getting drafted to the Lakers should be celebrated… I don’t care what y’all say. I love when black people win at NEPOTISM,” said another user.
“The Bronny James discourse is so disgusting bruh… y’all do realize nepotism doesn’t work in basketball if u not good right? If that was the case then MJ’s sons would’ve been in the league.. or D Wade’s son would be on the Jazz rn.. Bronny is actually good jackasses,” said another user.
“Bronny almost left this earth a year ago and now he’ll get to suit up with his Dad for the Lakers. God did His big one with the James family,” wrote another user citing the USC player’s shocking cardiac arrest back in July 2023.
“It has been discovered that LeBron James is sleeping with his newest teammate’s mom,” joked one user.
Added another: “This bronny talk is already getting annoying man. Yes we overdue for some black nepotism, but as basketball fans we also realize how ridiculous it is that bruh got drafted, 2 things can be tru.”
Whether or not it’s an example of Black nepotism, Bronny’s upcoming season with the Lakers will undoubtedly either silence the criticism or prove it correct.
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