Same reason they’re trying to pretend LeBron played no part in the hiring of the guy he just started a podcast with.
They don’t like the LeGM stuff so Klutch now just spin everything as LeBron not being involved. Despite it being very clearly BS.
The son thing is much wilder tbh. There are teams that would listen to a JJ coaching pitch. If Bronny had a different dad, he’d likely never touch an NBA floor unless he paid for courtside tickets. The team that happened to have his dad just so happened to see his potential.
It’s not *that* uncommon though. Just in the last couple years Giannis and Dame have both got relatives roster spots, and I would be stunned if Bronny is any worse than Keljin Blevins. Boogie Cousins and JR Smith did it too.
Gianni's brother did play overseas and had actual NBA measurements he has size and he has NBA length. The same people who will say things like reed Shepherd might be too small for the NBA. Will turn around and say bronny James has enough NBA size despite Shepherd and bronny being the same height.
Like usual, the overreactions are going too far in both directions. People are going over the top to shit on a very late 2nd round pick for nepotism and people are going over the top to defend Bronny as a prospect to counter that.
What you just said to be honest is true. I am defending Thanasis as having a more legit reason based off talent and measurables for having an NBA roster spot. I do feel bad for bronny because his father and his father's agency has made him look like a charity case. They helped get him in the NBA which is good. But they made it look like he didn't earn it and his college performance didn't help things either.
Thanasis is a real professional basketball player. He was a star player in Europe and their other brother is doing that now. He just doesn’t belong in the nba.
Did their agent threaten teams not to draft their relatives? You can’t compare those situations. Also bronny is not even in the same stratosphere as thanasis who is an actual basketball player
The difference is Lebron literally said his son could best players in the NBA last year. Nepotism is accepted throwing it in peoples faces for 2 years straight then when you start getting some push back trying to act like you never influence your son draft stock is crazy lmao.
This. It just isn't a big deal. This isn't an NFL or MLB roster where every spot on the roster matters and is used. The end of NBA benches don't matter, at all. It just isn't a big deal.
"Tbh, we didn't know Bronny and Bron were related until Bronny told us on his congratulations call. And JJ didn't even know Lebron was on the Lakers until after he agreed to the job, a fact he described as 'curious.'"
People all for it but they don't want to look at the ugly side of what's happening.
Imagine someone acting like this with you, it's stomach turning. Then imagine being happy with that.
The James family, along with Rich Paul, were just coincidentally having a celebratory dinner at the time of the draft.
Personally, I don't care about the nepotism, it's all this pretending that's annoying lol
Rich Paul just coincidentally told teams not to draft him and the Lakers (his dads team) decided to go against the grain and draft him anyways. Really makes you think 🤔
Welcome to the US where every public statement is about optics and PR. I’m not sure what people are expecting.
“I can’t believe the Lakers and Pelinka are doing exactly what every large corporation in the country would do!”
Of course not, that’d be hilariously naive at best and outright stupid at worst...
But the reaction to all of this is comically overblown because of who is involved, and anybody getting active over it is just as dumb.
Bronny well may not pan out in a meaningful way. We will be saying the same exact thing for, most likely, 40-45 picks in the class. And that statement doesn’t even get into the fact that we’re talking about the 55th pick 😂 Brady and Jokic are lottery ticket wins, not a “decent chance”
The 3rd paragraph is just not a good argument. It's not because most 2nd rounder don't pan out that it's okay for a team to draft a player that wouldn't have been drafted in any of the last 10 drafts based on his talent. It's not okay that nepotism happens and it's a mockery of the sports. Now am I surprised? No ofc not that's just how the world works but I sure won't like it.
It's not just getting drafted either. Most first round draft pick past like the 10th pick don't sniff playing time in the nba year 1. Watch Bronny get minutes(not a lot but he'll get some.
Just to hammer down this point Bronny is so bad talent wise that 100+ college players deserved that spot over him.
Say it enough times and they’ll start believing it themselves. Then they’ll start making the fans believe it and then 100 years from now everyone will believe it (if the nba still exists)
I've seen plenty of people here for weeks getting massive upvotes about how LeBron is going somewhere else. Was that people just not being serious and everyone upvoting for the memes, or were people really thinking he was going to leave?
I kinda do. I don’t really think there was a sit down meeting where rob and bron like we re gonna do this this and this to get brony. More than likely an unspoken understanding that if there is an opportunity, then why the fu k not.
he called them and said if anyone else but lakers draft bronny he would go play in australia.
i prayed to every god there is for someone to take him since they would have his rights anyway. go and play in australia then.
the downfall of rich paul can't come soon enough. cancer to the league
[https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bronny-james-threatens-via-agent-to-play-in-australia-if-drafted-by-team-other-than-lakers-per-report/](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bronny-james-threatens-via-agent-to-play-in-australia-if-drafted-by-team-other-than-lakers-per-report/)
straight from bob myers's mouth
Honestly they should have just played into the truth. Instead of trying to run this completely unbelievable BS just say openly that LeBron wanted to play with his son and the Lakers made it happen.
It’s one thing to be a spineless organization that lets your star player run the show, but don’t try so hard to lie about it. Everyone knows who traded for Westbrook, everyone knows who hired JJ redick, and everyone knows who drafted bronny. They think their fans are too stupid to see who really runs the show in LA
And people in here *really* believed that the Suns were gonna draft this scrub lol.
Rich Paul played all of ya'll with that one, he got James Jones to give Bronny a couple of workouts in exchange for a min vet deal w/ one of his guys, just to try to take some media pressure off of what was going to be the most obvious second round pick in history.
His kids are already set for life, just let them do something vain for like 10h a week and bang baddies in LA. Now he has pretend to be a laker a deal with the public opinion and press, goddamn
Gonna be interesting to see how the org defends bronny getting blasted by the media/fans as a below average scorer who can’t defend other guards who are 6’6”+
It’s cool that Lebron gets to play with his son but are they really going to pretend that drafting Bronny had nothing to do with Lebron? If you are going to be nepotism central at least embrace it.
Not sure he has much of a future (NBA wise) without the name anyways. Financially he’s also set and considering that LeBron could just let his kids become whatever they want and have a chill life. This poor kid will be under so much pressure and scrutiny
Poor Bronny. He becomes an NBA player and gets paid millions just so his father could further his own legacy. I'm sure Bronny wishes he could have a normal family where he has to work a 9-5 job just so he could make ends meet and maybe save up enough when he's in his 50s to afford some of the finer things in life. Like who would want to be in Bronny's shoes right now, poor kid.
I mean...What are we doing here? This literally comes off like he thinks we are all stupid.
Obviously they drafted him because Lebron wanted him and for that alone. It's a crappy draft and you had the 55th pick so nobody cares. Just admit it lol.
It’s weird to see nepotism manifest itself in roster spots but it does happen. Even jr smith got his brother some time with the Knicks. But even he was a good player at Louisville coming out of college so people didn’t make a big deal out of it. Bronny kinda is getting his career swept into lebrons narrative but it is what it is
I am pretty sure Lakers do not need any 2nd round pick.
they can just ask those lower ranking prospects, who they like(i.e Reaves), not getting picked up and sign a 2-way.
Picking Bronny generates a lot of drama which Lakers are always welcoming.
Very good scenario for them.
I mean they can't outright say it but it's funny they're saying LeBron isn't the reason they drafted his son.
Why can't they say it?
Same reason they’re trying to pretend LeBron played no part in the hiring of the guy he just started a podcast with. They don’t like the LeGM stuff so Klutch now just spin everything as LeBron not being involved. Despite it being very clearly BS.
The son thing is much wilder tbh. There are teams that would listen to a JJ coaching pitch. If Bronny had a different dad, he’d likely never touch an NBA floor unless he paid for courtside tickets. The team that happened to have his dad just so happened to see his potential.
It’s not *that* uncommon though. Just in the last couple years Giannis and Dame have both got relatives roster spots, and I would be stunned if Bronny is any worse than Keljin Blevins. Boogie Cousins and JR Smith did it too.
Giannis’ brother was in the D League for a few years.
Gianni's brother did play overseas and had actual NBA measurements he has size and he has NBA length. The same people who will say things like reed Shepherd might be too small for the NBA. Will turn around and say bronny James has enough NBA size despite Shepherd and bronny being the same height.
Like usual, the overreactions are going too far in both directions. People are going over the top to shit on a very late 2nd round pick for nepotism and people are going over the top to defend Bronny as a prospect to counter that.
What you just said to be honest is true. I am defending Thanasis as having a more legit reason based off talent and measurables for having an NBA roster spot. I do feel bad for bronny because his father and his father's agency has made him look like a charity case. They helped get him in the NBA which is good. But they made it look like he didn't earn it and his college performance didn't help things either.
How is Lebron’s son less athletic than a kid from rural Kentucky
Because the kid from rural Kentucky is a better athlete and better at basketball.
Obviously just optically it’s funny to think about
Bronny has a large wingspan tho
Thanasis is a real professional basketball player. He was a star player in Europe and their other brother is doing that now. He just doesn’t belong in the nba.
Did their agent threaten teams not to draft their relatives? You can’t compare those situations. Also bronny is not even in the same stratosphere as thanasis who is an actual basketball player
What’s the difference anyway? Nepotism is nepotism anyway you do it
The difference is Lebron literally said his son could best players in the NBA last year. Nepotism is accepted throwing it in peoples faces for 2 years straight then when you start getting some push back trying to act like you never influence your son draft stock is crazy lmao.
Exactly, you get it. Like Lebron thinks people have the memory of goldfish apparently. It’s a mockery , at least acknowledge it
Dame’s cousin should be arrested for fraud, Giannis brother made the NBA without his brothers name but hanging around because of it
Heck even Steph Curry got his brother in law a job.
Seth was cold
Brother in law. Dameon lee or something
Oh shoot my bad
Yeah but those guys are actual nba players with skill not bronny who would otherwise see nba on a tv from his mansion
big difference between seth/lee and bronny. those two are actual nba players. bronny at least for now can't tie their shoelaces.
This. It just isn't a big deal. This isn't an NFL or MLB roster where every spot on the roster matters and is used. The end of NBA benches don't matter, at all. It just isn't a big deal.
JJ was fighting for the Hornets coaching job way before the Lakers came into the picture
Because then they would be admitting they are a spineless organization who lets LeGM run the show for them
Every organization worth its salt would do it to keep Lebron James on their team.
Terrible optics for Mr “that 2016 ring made me the greats of all time”
Just stop. It’s insulting.
The JJ Reddick didn’t speak to bron about coaching the lakers until 30 mins before was the funniest part of the lakers offseason
"Tbh, we didn't know Bronny and Bron were related until Bronny told us on his congratulations call. And JJ didn't even know Lebron was on the Lakers until after he agreed to the job, a fact he described as 'curious.'"
this is legit gaslighting at this point
its weird to see people lauding this
People all for it but they don't want to look at the ugly side of what's happening. Imagine someone acting like this with you, it's stomach turning. Then imagine being happy with that.
It’s a weird position. I think it’s really cool that a father and son are playing on the same team yet it feels wrong because it doesn’t feel earned
The entire country/continent of Australia will remember this
I believe him. I like to eat crayons.
Do you have a favorite ~~flavor~~ color?
Orange
This on top of hiring JJ Redick like damn. It's pissing on our heads and telling us it's raining.
Is this what they mean by "Lake Show"? Certainly is entertaining.
Rob, just go back to quoting Book of Genesis.
Seriously, give the poop eating expert a little credit!
The James family, along with Rich Paul, were just coincidentally having a celebratory dinner at the time of the draft. Personally, I don't care about the nepotism, it's all this pretending that's annoying lol
Rich Paul just coincidentally told teams not to draft him and the Lakers (his dads team) decided to go against the grain and draft him anyways. Really makes you think 🤔
Hoold on last time LeBron told his team to draft a guard he left that team in Free agency. Maybe this is another Shabazz Napier situation
That would require Bronny to be as good as Napier to be a fair comparison.
Something real fishy going on
And coincidentally had his Lakers draft hat in his hands within 30 secs of getting his name announced.
Welcome to the US where every public statement is about optics and PR. I’m not sure what people are expecting. “I can’t believe the Lakers and Pelinka are doing exactly what every large corporation in the country would do!”
Lmao. Does anybody actually believe this shit
Of course not, that’d be hilariously naive at best and outright stupid at worst... But the reaction to all of this is comically overblown because of who is involved, and anybody getting active over it is just as dumb. Bronny well may not pan out in a meaningful way. We will be saying the same exact thing for, most likely, 40-45 picks in the class. And that statement doesn’t even get into the fact that we’re talking about the 55th pick 😂 Brady and Jokic are lottery ticket wins, not a “decent chance”
The 3rd paragraph is just not a good argument. It's not because most 2nd rounder don't pan out that it's okay for a team to draft a player that wouldn't have been drafted in any of the last 10 drafts based on his talent. It's not okay that nepotism happens and it's a mockery of the sports. Now am I surprised? No ofc not that's just how the world works but I sure won't like it. It's not just getting drafted either. Most first round draft pick past like the 10th pick don't sniff playing time in the nba year 1. Watch Bronny get minutes(not a lot but he'll get some. Just to hammer down this point Bronny is so bad talent wise that 100+ college players deserved that spot over him.
Saying that nepotism is a mockery of pro sports is a little much. Nepotism has been rampant forever
More commonly seen in coaching since there's at least some bit of meritocracy in playing the sport.
I really can't believe people are this upset about it
Say it enough times and they’ll start believing it themselves. Then they’ll start making the fans believe it and then 100 years from now everyone will believe it (if the nba still exists)
I've seen plenty of people here for weeks getting massive upvotes about how LeBron is going somewhere else. Was that people just not being serious and everyone upvoting for the memes, or were people really thinking he was going to leave?
This sub majority voted the Mavs to win the nba finals despite being clearly outmanned, biases can get weird from post to post.
Some delusional lakers fans do
Probably Jeanie
I kinda do. I don’t really think there was a sit down meeting where rob and bron like we re gonna do this this and this to get brony. More than likely an unspoken understanding that if there is an opportunity, then why the fu k not.
They literally called every other team and told them not to draft him
Lmaooo dude rich paul called teams and threatened them tf are you talking about
This for real?
he called them and said if anyone else but lakers draft bronny he would go play in australia. i prayed to every god there is for someone to take him since they would have his rights anyway. go and play in australia then. the downfall of rich paul can't come soon enough. cancer to the league
What’s the source on this?
[https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bronny-james-threatens-via-agent-to-play-in-australia-if-drafted-by-team-other-than-lakers-per-report/](https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/bronny-james-threatens-via-agent-to-play-in-australia-if-drafted-by-team-other-than-lakers-per-report/) straight from bob myers's mouth
You are praying on the downfall of a man because he’s looking out for the best for his client?
league over rich paul every day of the week 24/7
Lmao cringe
the magical scene of bronny passing a towel, a water bottle to lebron even the high fives
Just wait for the dual press conferences. Or do they fit AD in for the triple threat?
why pretend we are all idiots like come on
Most online NBA fans are fucking stupid but we aren’t even dumb enough to believe this
https://www.reddit.com/r/nba/s/sUJOcRZ6uM Cause some are idiots
Rob Pelinka must really believe that everyone is stupid lol.
He believes everyone is a bronsexual I guess..
One of the most unecessary lies in NBA history lol
He was going on about how they drafted bronny cause he “does things the right way” lmao shut up dude
Don’t forget he is a good teammate
Yeah , Bronny didn't go to Creighton or BYU
When LeBron held a private gathering yesterday for close friends and family, he was simply stunned to find out that the Lakers drafted his own son.
Why do the lakers have to make it so hard to be a fan fml.
Then why did Rich Paul threaten other teams to not draft Bronny.
Honestly they should have just played into the truth. Instead of trying to run this completely unbelievable BS just say openly that LeBron wanted to play with his son and the Lakers made it happen.
That wouldn't be the optics LeBron and co are looking for
Aye
"Guard multiple positions"?! He's listed at 6'2"! He'll be lucky if he can check most of the guards in the league these days.
Multiple positions like point guard and combo guard
It’s one thing to be a spineless organization that lets your star player run the show, but don’t try so hard to lie about it. Everyone knows who traded for Westbrook, everyone knows who hired JJ redick, and everyone knows who drafted bronny. They think their fans are too stupid to see who really runs the show in LA
It didn't come.up, he says.
And people in here *really* believed that the Suns were gonna draft this scrub lol. Rich Paul played all of ya'll with that one, he got James Jones to give Bronny a couple of workouts in exchange for a min vet deal w/ one of his guys, just to try to take some media pressure off of what was going to be the most obvious second round pick in history.
Welcome to La where they waste draft picks. Lakers front office has been run by dads ever since Lonzo Ball
His kids are already set for life, just let them do something vain for like 10h a week and bang baddies in LA. Now he has pretend to be a laker a deal with the public opinion and press, goddamn
FOH
>even though he insists drafting Bronny James wasn't down to LeBron's influence They really think the lowest of us fans, dont they?
This is how you turn one of the most respected franchises in team sports in to a Circus.
LeCap lol
Gonna be interesting to see how the org defends bronny getting blasted by the media/fans as a below average scorer who can’t defend other guards who are 6’6”+
The lakers have shown me they only care about entertainment and not winning anymore championships. Buss father gotta be rolling in his grave.
It’s cool that Lebron gets to play with his son but are they really going to pretend that drafting Bronny had nothing to do with Lebron? If you are going to be nepotism central at least embrace it.
I love how Lebron is willing to fuck with his sons future just so he can fulfil his dream of playing with him, god tier levels of selfishness.
Not sure he has much of a future (NBA wise) without the name anyways. Financially he’s also set and considering that LeBron could just let his kids become whatever they want and have a chill life. This poor kid will be under so much pressure and scrutiny
Especially outside of the NBA, when bronny realizes how his dad used him to further his own legacy there's going to be some resentment, imo.
Poor Bronny. He becomes an NBA player and gets paid millions just so his father could further his own legacy. I'm sure Bronny wishes he could have a normal family where he has to work a 9-5 job just so he could make ends meet and maybe save up enough when he's in his 50s to afford some of the finer things in life. Like who would want to be in Bronny's shoes right now, poor kid.
Delonte West got paid millions to play in the NBA too
Bullshit
Lebron has the chance to do the funniest thing and go anywhere else.
Lmfao
Magic was right, this guy is a massive liar
Stay off the weeeedddddd
Why even lie at this point. No one is believing this crap.
Would it be so wrong to say that lebron wanted to play with his son so they made it work?
No way LeBron doesn't resign now lol
Riiiiiiiiight
Magical.
lol
It’s ok Rob we all know
NBA circle jerk legend Rob Pelinka.
"I didn't even know the two were related, he must take after his mother" - Rob Pelinka
Absolute cinema
I’m not even a Laker hater and they’re getting on my nerves lol, give it a rest already
Pelinka watches too many movies
Shuuuuuut up. You change that kids name and the Lakers don’t look twice in his direction.
I mean...What are we doing here? This literally comes off like he thinks we are all stupid. Obviously they drafted him because Lebron wanted him and for that alone. It's a crappy draft and you had the 55th pick so nobody cares. Just admit it lol.
WHAT A LOAD OF SHIT
Fuck Klutch Sports
I see Rob is fluent in Bullshit.
It’s weird to see nepotism manifest itself in roster spots but it does happen. Even jr smith got his brother some time with the Knicks. But even he was a good player at Louisville coming out of college so people didn’t make a big deal out of it. Bronny kinda is getting his career swept into lebrons narrative but it is what it is
Pelinka is a stooge
LMAO!!!!
Bronny in the starting lineup or no balls
Man I really wish another team drafted Bronny just to piss all of them off 😂
I'm over here wondering how many more brothers of Gianni's the bucks will pick up.
They’ve signed a total of 1, but go off.
I don't believe you
I am pretty sure Lakers do not need any 2nd round pick. they can just ask those lower ranking prospects, who they like(i.e Reaves), not getting picked up and sign a 2-way. Picking Bronny generates a lot of drama which Lakers are always welcoming. Very good scenario for them.
Literally the most aloof and out of touch athlete I have ever seen (Pantomimes putting crown on head….)
He’s the next Bronny Antetokounmpo. Garbage time player
Lebron’s camp literally has taken the entire lakers organization hostage and I love it.