ESPN analysts spark fury after saying NBA needs ‘more black nepotism’

The Lakers picking Bronny James in the NBA Draft is an example of long-overdue ‘black nepotism’, according to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Jay Williams.

LeBron James‘ son was selected by Los Angeles with the 55th overall pick in the second round of the draft on Thursday night – a seismic moment which left the 19-year-old overcome with emotion.

It means Bronny and his dad are set to become the first ever father-son duo to play at the same time in the NBA, and they will do so for the very same team. 

However, the former USC Trojans guard – who was snubbed in the first round of the draft –  joining the same franchise as his dad has led to accusations of nepotism.

Some are arguing that he has only been selected by LA due to his legendary father’s influence, while suggesting that he is not yet ready to play in the big leagues.

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Yet according to ESPN First Take analysts Smith and Williams, nepotism has been an issue with ‘white folks’ in the NBA for quite some time.

‘We live in a country where nepotism has taken place with white folks religiously forever. We’ve said little to nothing about it,’ Smith said on Friday’s show.

‘In the NBA specifically, in a league where at least 70 percent of the players are black, we’ve seen nepotism with white folks all over the place. 

‘And now this happens with LeBron James, a member of the Mount Rushmore of basketball, and all of a sudden you’ve got people running their mouths.’

Williams went even further in saying the NBA ‘needs more instances of black nepotism’ after alleging that black people have not been afforded such luxuries in the past.

‘I’ve been in a lot of rooms where I’ve seen people who aren’t worthy of the opportunity, and if you’re not worthy of the opportunity then I’m gonna get angry about the opportunity you were afforded – but I understand how the game is played,’ the former Chicago Bulls guard said to co-analyst Kendrick Perkins.

’99 percent of the time none of those people look like us Perk. And I think when I saw a lot of this chatter online from people that look like us, I’m like hold on… don’t we need more instances of black nepotism? Especially when that person has a disposition and demeanor of somebody that’s worthy of being put in that position.’

Williams added: ‘So when I look at Bronny; I’ve watched games, I’ve seen games where he’s showed up to games two-and-a-half hours early, where he’s stayed after the games working out, where I’ve talked to him and he’s said the right things. 

‘Even the way he’s handled the McDonalds All-American game. Even the way LeBron has handled his career… why is that not worthy of being drafted in the second round?’

Both Williams and Smith’s comments on the topic have sparked fury on social media, where fans have blasted the First Take regulars for encouraging nepotism in any fashion.

One wrote on X: ‘How about “we need less instances of all nepotism”? The LeBron water carrying on ESPN is staggering.’

Another posted: ‘lol now we need black nepotism? Huh’.

‘What an awful take,’ a third said about Williams’ comments. 

‘Just because it happens a lot and will always happen doesn’t mean its good,’ wrote a fourth. 

A fifth pointed out: ‘So now we’re rooting for Black Nepotism because other people do it? Nonsense. I feel Bronny should have taken his time and got to the draft when HE was ready and really proved himself. But optics and “making history as 1st father-son teammates” was more important, smh #NBADraft’.

While one simply said: ‘literally out here defending nepotism – wild world we live in’.