"This unprincipled nonsense is defensible" - NBA analyst rebukes Jay Williams advocating LeBron James' nepotism with Bronny James
Future Hall of Famer LeBron James has come under fire as a result of the LA Lakers drafting his son, Bronny James with the 55th pick. While it wasn't entirely surprising that Bronny landed in LA, there has been quite a bit of talk of nepotism. Given how Bronny performed in college, some fans feel as though if he weren't the son of a four-time NBA champ, he likely would have gone undrafted.
The situation has become a hot topic for debate as of late, with fans condemning LeBron James and the Lakers. On the flip side, others, such as NBA vet Jay Williams, believe that even if there is some nepotism at play, it doesn't warrant criticism.
In a world where Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones employs three of his children, Williams seems to be of the mindset that Bronny's hard work makes him worthy of a chance to develop. Speaking on Friday's episode of First Take, Williams praised Bronny's work ethic, demeanor, and flashes of brilliance.
In addition, he also stated that the world could use some more cases of black nepotism given situations like Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. The comments didn't sit well with former ESPN analyst Bomani Jones, who fired back on Twitter/X.
"no. we don’t. i can’t believe how many people think this unprincipled nonsense is defensible. saying this on television is pathetic."
"He showed up to games two and a half hours early"
- Jay Williams praises LeBron James' son for work ethic
While Bronny James' college stats didn't jump off the page compared to some of his peers, the LA Lakers believe that he can develop into a strong 3 and D player. As GM Rob Pelinka explained, they were impressed by Bronny's strong defensive skills and his ability to defend multiple positions.
In addition, while he shot under 30% from downtown in college, he finished second among all participants at the draft combine with 19-25 in the three-point drill. Given that, Pelinka believes that LeBron James' son has what it takes to develop his shot.
With newly-appointed coach JJ Redick being a widely-praised sharpshooter, the hope is that the team can develop Bronny in the years to come. The way Jay Williams sees things, LeBron James Jr. already has the right work ethic:
"When I look at Bronny, I watch games. I've seen games where he showed up to games two and a half hours early. Where he stayed after the games working out. Yes. Where I've talked to him, and he said the right things.
"Even in the way he's handled the McDonald's All-American game, even the way LeBron has handled his career, why is that not worthy of the opportunity of being drafted in the second round?"
The big question now is whether or not Bronny will develop as the Lakers front office believes he can.