"It’s mad negative. People used it with me" - Austin Rivers defends Bronny James, calls out people who made nepotism claims
Former NBA player Austin Rivers has come out to defend Bronny James against criticism over his LA Lakers draft selection. The young guard was picked at 55 on Day 2 of this year's draft, creating the first father-son duo to play at the same time in the association with LeBron James.
Discussing the 'nepotism' narrative around Bronny on the 'Off Guard' show, Austin Rivers clapped back at critics, shutting down the notion that the rookie will be a role player for the Lakers as soon as he steps foot on the court.
"People are so caught up in, "Well, he's only going because..." Okay, so what? Who cares? It doesn't mean he can't become a good player. Just because he's getting drafted because of his dad doesn't mean he can't play basketball or won't become a pro eventually. They're not drafting him to be a role player next year. Will he get in the game next year at some point? Absolutely. You best believe you're going to see it, and everyone's going to watch, which is why they took him.
Rivers added that Bronny has shown improvements in his game and recalled that he almost died on the court and now is on his way to the NBA.
"I saw someone say this the other day. It drives me crazy. I don't like when you compare something being critiqued in a negative way with other things that could also be critiqued as negative to justify it. Don't tell me, "Well, nepotism has been going on in the NBA for a long, long time."
"Okay, there are coaches, front office, so it shouldn't be a problem with Bronny. That's not how you get over this, bro. Two wrongs don't make a right. So, don’t use other people as an example and bring them down to prove a point. I don’t like that word. It’s mad negative. People used it with me when I played for the Clippers, which was a completely different situation.
"I was already in the NBA, but still, nonetheless, when I got paid to go play for the Clippers, that word was still loosely thrown out there. Even though I was out there throwing 30 balls on people’s heads, giving 20 pieces to their favorite player, that word was still thrown out there," Austin Rivers said.
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How many 30+, 20+ points Austin Rivers had with the Clippers?
Austin Rivers had a decent NBA career, becoming a reliable role player for multiple franchises during his 10-year tenure. The guard made money, especially with the Clippers, which allegedly hurt Doc Rivers' relationship with the team. Rivers was there and tried to help the squad, but during 243 matches with the Clips, he only scored 30+ points four times and 20+ points 29 times.
Considering all the matches he played with the Clippers, the point he tried to make doesn't seem that fair. Bronny James will surely have opportunities to be better and showcase his talents.
Lakers officials have already hyped him up. With time, he can become a solid role player in the league and impact games in several ways. Austin Rivers is currently a free agent after last playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2023, being famous for sparking a huge debate between NFL and NBA players.