The Los Angeles Lakers ' decision to draft collegiate basketball backup Bronny James on Thursday night demonstrates both blatant nepotism and a lack of respect for meritocracy.
The pick was paradoxically shocking and predictable.
James could barely get on the court during his freshman year at the University of Southern California. He’s woefully undersized, his 3-point shot is underwhelming, and there’s no clear skill set present in his game that is transferable to the NBA.
Far more relevant than his ability is his last name, however. His father, LeBron James, wields extensive power in the National Basketball Association and the Lakers organization. He has developed a reputation over the years for forcing the firing of coaches and influencing trades and roster choices.
As such, NBA fans essentially knew this was coming. LeBron James has also referenced playing with his son for years despite his lackluster scouting report.
This embarrassing nepotism has no place in the NBA and is actively disrespectful to the institutions of meritocracy and competition. Bronny James getting drafted guaranteed that another prospect didn’t. The Lakers substituted him in and indirectly substituted another player out. That unnamed prospect has worked hard for years on end to get drafted. He is objectively more worthy than Bronny, but he didn’t get to experience the elation of having his name called because it isn’t “James.”
The NBA isn’t foreign to nepotism, that’s for sure. Seth Curry and Thanasis Antetokounmpo immediately come to mind, but this latest example is, by far, the most blatant form of nepotism the league has ever seen.
And it’s a real shame because almost everybody loses here. The Lakers could have used that pick to draft a better player who could help them win games in the tough Western Conference. The NBA is struggling to maintain respect among sports fans, and this latest development will only further hurt its reputation. The one who loses the most here, unfortunately, is Bronny James.
The Lakers and LeBron James did him a disservice Thursday night. Rather than instilling within him the values of competition and persistence, they taught him that his last name matters more than his character. To put a young person in a position he isn't suited for isn’t to help him but to hurt him.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The only person who wins in this situation is LeBron James.
Based on the draft pick last night, however, he shouldn’t expect to win anything of public significance anytime soon.
Most Popular
Comments / 0