Why NBA Draft outrage in Bronny James’ direction is idiotic at best

The history-making selection of Bronny James in the NBA Draft has divided opinions, but the outrage is nothing short of idiocy.

Bronny James selection divided the NBA world. (Photo by Alex Bierens de Haan / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

The selection of Bronny James by the Los Angeles Lakers in the second round of the NBA Draft has divided the basketball world.

Bronny entered the draft after garnering arguably the most hype of any prospect this year and it was with the 55th pick when he heard his name read out.

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He will become one half of the first ever father-son duo to play in the NBA, as he joins his megastar father LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers.

While it was widely expected the Lakers would select Bronny with their final pick in the 2024 Draft, it didn’t stop fans far and wide for calling out the move as nothing more than nepotism at its finest.

One user wrote: “The Lakers drafting Bronny James is a bad idea. Beyond the obvious nepotism, I don’t think this is a good move for either of their careers.”

A second added: “Bronny getting on the Lakers is 100% nepotism in action.”

But ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski wasn’t buying it and took aim at those calling out the Lakers with an impassioned speech during the Draft coverage.

“I don’t want to hear the charges, people talking about nepotism,” Wojnarowski said.

“The NBA is full of nepotism. The ownership level, front offices, coaching.

“I don’t want to hear about it all of a sudden because Bronny James’ father plays for the Lakers. It is rampant in this league.”

Bronny James was once listed as a top 10 selection. Alex Bierens de Haan/Getty Images/AFP

As Wojnarowski went into bat for Bronny, former ESPN host Bomani Jones delivered a scathing take on social media as he called out fellow journalists.

“Still can’t believe either Lebron thinks this is a good idea. And it’s embarrassing more ppl in my profession won’t call this the clown sh*t that it is. But here we are,” he wrote.

While Jones wasn’t alone in calling out the Lakers over the selection, it’s worth going back through the record books and looking at the fate of former 55th picks in the Draft.

Out of the past five selections taken with the 55th overall pick, only one has become a regular player within his team’s rotation.

In 2019 the 55th pick was Kyle Guy who spent three seasons in the league where he appeared in 53 games with averages of 3.1 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.9 assists. He was waived by the Miami Heat in 2022.

In 2020 it was Jay Scrubb’s turn to be the 55th pick. He also spent three seasons in the league with averages of 4.0 points, 1.5 rebounds and 0.4 assists across 24 games. He was waived in October 2023 by the Boston Celtics.

You see where this is going?

LeBron and his son will team up. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP

Bronny outrage is nothing more than idiocy. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images/AFP

Outside of Aaron Wiggins in 2021, the last time a 55th pick had any major impact in the league was E’Twaun Moore who was drafted in 2011.

While Moore didn’t blow the world away throughout his first five seasons, his fortune changed when he joined the New Orleans Pelicans and won the NBA’s Most Improved Player award in 2017/18.

So while fans may be outraged, it’s fair to call that anger nothing more than idiocy.

The Lakers effectively used a nothing pick to take a teenager who before a cardiac arrest scare in 2023 was a McDonald’s All-American.

He wasn’t given a spot on that roster because of his last name and who his father is, he earned his place on the court and proved he belonged among the hottest prospects in the country.

Now he gets the opportunity to prove the doubters wrong when he pulls on the Lakers jersey for the first time.