You Call It Nepotism. I Call It Fatherhood.
LeBron James may have opened a door for his son, Bronny, but what do you expect the most powerful dad in the NBA to do?
When I look at my kids and think about their future, I think, “I would do anything to set my girls up for success.”
That’s what a dad does. He builds, creates, and works to provide the best life he can for his children. That job doesn’t cease to exist when they turn 18.
Men are celebrated for providing for their families and for teaching their children the ways of the world, especially the family business.
“This restaurant has been in our family since my great-grandpa bought it back in 1942.”
“My father was the CEO of this company, and he taught me everything I know, preparing me to be the next CEO.”
Generally speaking, you love to see it. A father who is paving the way for his kids to utilize their resources and talents to the best of their ability.
Unless you’re LeBron James, then somehow, all of society's rules for dads get turned over, and helping your son succeed in the business you know better than anyone is no longer acceptable.
Nepotism in Hollywood has been a hot topic recently.
Emma Roberts, star of We’re the Millers and American Horror Story, and daughter of actor Eric Roberts and niece of actor Julia Roberts, has taken some heat for being a “Nepo Baby.” Let’s just say that Emma is not a fan of the tag.
Maya Hawke, John David Washington, and Brooklyn Beckham are just a few celebrities who’ve been called out as Nepo Babies.
I’ve come across some folks where, after seeing their work, I think, “Who are their parents? Ain’t no way their talent is holding up their career.”
But then, other times, I’ve been shocked to find an actor is a so-called Nepo Baby. John David Washington, for example? I had no clue his dad was Denzel Washington. I had seen his work in Ballers and Tenet and thought, “This guy is good.” Then I found out his dad is the greatest actor of all time, and I was like, “Oh, of course he’s good!”
Talent can put you on another level.
Jack Quaid, star of The Boys and The Hunger Games, also son of actors Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan, recently said this about his Nepo Baby tag.
“I am an immensely privileged person, was able to get representation pretty early on, and that’s more than half the battle. I knew the door was open for me in a lot of ways that it’s just not for a lot of actors. And I’ve just tried to work as hard as I possibly can to prove that I deserve to walk through that door.”
Jack’s parents have opened doors. Jack’s last name has gotten him some auditions. And Jack has built a career through dedication, hard work, and taking advantage of the privilege he openly acknowledges.
When parents open doors for their children, what are they supposed to do? Close the door and take the escape route?
And if a parent has a clear opportunity to help their kids excel in a certain field, what are they supposed to do, not help them?
It’s tricky because I could sit here all day and rail against parents who’ve given their kids advantages they don’t deserve, yet there are countless people my age, far more talented than I’ll ever be, who’ll never have the basic advantages I have like access to the internet or a therapist because of a million scenarios that are unfair to children.
Life is complicated and unfair, and every day, we’re reminded that sheer luck is the baseline of the majority of our lives, and you know who knows that as well as anyone? LeBron James.
Born in Akron, OH, to a single mom, LeBron is considered one of the greatest basketball players of all time. A high school phenom, he entered the NBA as an 18-year-old and became one of the league's greatest players by 20. Twenty-one years after his arrival in the NBA, LeBron is still one of the greatest players in the league.
LeBron’s success stems from his immense talent, insane work ethic, phenomenal intelligence, and historic body preparation. The man has put in the work for two decades and shows no signs of slowing down. I mean, LeBron is starting for the 2024 Men’s Olympic Basketball National Team as we speak, at age 39!
While there are aspects of his game that, in theory, could be repeated by others, LeBron would not be LeBron if he were 5'9". He might not even be LeBron if he were 6'4". LeBron’s 6'8" frame allows him to dominate in the paint, going toe to toe with the league’s largest giants and overpower the league’s smaller players on the perimeter.
LeBron is the perfect height for the perfect sport, and unless I’m missing something, he had no say in the matter. He took advantage of his build and catapulted it into one of the most successful careers of any person in any field at any time.
Akron is not the easiest place in America to grow up. Even at his height, the odds have been stacked against LeBron since birth. But today, LeBron is a household name with immense power in the world of sports and business, able to build schools, create production companies, and open NBA doors for his son.
The discourse around Bronny James has been borderline insufferable, none of which has to do with him. The NBA has never seen a father and son duo play in the league at the same time, and in a notably weak draft that lacked some of the storylines that sports media would typically crave, the LeBron and Bronny connection was ratings gold. Most media outlets are taking advantage of it.
Though, with Bronny’s draft stock on the lower end, much of the sports landscape has questioned whether or not he would be drafted at all if his father wasn’t the most powerful basketball player in the world. With his dad’s agent, Rich Paul, managing the process, many have questioned the privileges that Bronny received during the draft.
But at the end of the day, with the 55th pick in the NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James from USC.
And a narrative was born.
The “abuse of power” comment by Steven Hunter, who averaged 4.5 ppg over eight seasons in his 7' frame, seems to resonate with some.
This wasn’t earned. It’s sneaky Hollywood s**t. Bronny doesn’t deserve his spot.
Okay?
Looking at a list of 55th picks in the last 25 NBA drafts will show you the likelihood of getting a rotational player this deep in the draft is rare, so why do people care?
Because people hate nepotism. It’s a reminder that hard work and skill matters less than we’d like to believe. Was there somebody more deserving of the 55th pick than Bronny? Maybe. I’m sure within five years, we’ll find an NBA player who went undrafted in 2024 and should have been a first-round pick.
But as a dad who was in the unique position of becoming the first player in NBA history to play professional basketball with his son, are you seriously thinking LeBron James should punt this opportunity? Was he supposed to say, “No, please, Lakers, draft somebody else who will likely never make an NBA roster?”
Of course not!
Now, the difference between, say, Emma Roberts and Jack Quaid is an ability to acknowledge their privilege. As you read at the beginning, Roberts has framed her nepotism as a disadvantage, whereas Quaid has acknowledged his as a privilege. Regardless, once you get through the door, your talent and work ethic are what matter most.
I’m sure there are hundreds of Hollywood kids right now who are sitting at home, living off their inheritance, because their work ethic shut the very doors their parents’ success had opened.
If Bronny James has a serviceable career playing professional basketball and works his tail off like his dad, then great. If he doesn’t, then he will be one of literally thousands of players who didn’t pan out in the league. This would be expected for any late second-round pick.
LeBron James may have pulled a few strings to get Bronny in the door, but what dad wouldn’t? When drawing a parallel between kids getting into law school because of their dad and what LeBron likely pulled for his son, Colin Cowherd pointed out that “Connections matter. They always have.”
Now, acknowledging one’s privilege is an entirely different article. There is no shortage of people who think they made it on their own despite their parents' help. When Lakers coach JJ Redick said Bronny James “earned” his way onto the team, that’s when the collective eyes roll.
Maybe he did, I don’t know, but looking at his college stats compared to others who went undrafted, it’s a difficult argument to make after being raised by the most important player on your team.
Bronny had access to the greatest chefs, the greatest training equipment, literally the greatest player in the game, and when he suffered a cardiac arrest in 2023, he had access to the greatest medical teams. All of that is amazing, and I’m glad he had it.
Maybe Bronny was born on third base, but his dad was born outside of the stadium and put in every ounce of work for his opportunity.
From politics to local businesses, Hollywood to sports, parents have been helping their kids do what they love since the beginning of time. In due time, we’ll learn whether Bronny “earned” his shot or not, but my point is I’m glad he got one.
I can’t say I’ll be able to get my daughters a job anywhere except for an ice cream shop, but if one day I have the ability to nudge them toward an $8 million job, and if that’s what they want, then I will do anything in my power to make it happen.
We’ll talk about privilege and not squandering opportunity. We’ll talk about paying it forward and doing their absolute best with what’s been given to them. But especially with my background? Listen, you can “Nepo Baby” my kids all you want; if “abusing my power” meant telling my boss I would love to work with my kid, and if my kid wanted to work with me, then watch me shoulder shrug my way to the bank.
There are a million conversations to be had around this topic, including whether or not it’s in Bronny's best interest to play on his dad’s team. But most of those conversations should be reserved between a father and his child.
For now, I’m going to sit back and enjoy watching history unfold as Lebron James and LeBron James Jr. become the first dad and son duo to play on the same court in NBA history.