Bronny James playing with his superstar father LeBron James has turned a lot of heads. Fans believe Bronny is in the league solely because of his father. How many late-round draft picks can you name who have had a 4 year guaranteed contract for a powerhouse like the Los Angeles Lakers? Enter Austin Rivers, no he wasn’t a 2nd round draft pick, but people always thought that he lived in his father’s shadow.

No one can understand how Bronny and LeBron feel but there is Austin Rivers who comes close. His father, the famed Doc Rivers, coached the Los Angeles Clippers when the team acquired him. Rivers played 11 seasons in the NBA as a reliable rotational player, though many have labeled his career as the sports equivalent of a “nepo baby.” 

“That’s what drove me crazy is people would say—even people who would try to be nice would be like, it’s not different than when a dad hires his son at a law firm,” Austin said. “I said, ‘It’s not the same thing.’ You can’t be given an NBA job. I got drafted. If your dad is a CEO of a company, he can hire his son and place him in whatever position he wants.” Having seen what it’s like to be capable and still not being recognized, he has come in defense of Bronny James.

Though Rivers did not shy away from saying that Bronny wasn’t league-ready yet, he did defend him. “Yeah, just if you’re looking at, you know, his minutes played, he’s, he’s not really a pro yet. That doesn’t mean he’s not going to be. I have every ounce of confidence that he’s going to end up being a pro,” said Rivers on his podcast Off Guard with Austin Rivers. LeBron James is known for taking impeccable care of his body, so much so that some refer to it as an obsession, and believes it will rub off on his son.

“You know, his son is undersized for a guard, but he’s freakish athletic, is not a bad shooter. And again, he’ll be in the gym every day with pros and with his father,” Rivers said, highlighting how LeBron’s elite mentality should drive Bronny to start working harder.

This isn’t the first time Austin Rivers has come out in support of Bronny

In the podcast, Austin doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the privilege that comes with having a famous father, but he also points out that it’s not all smooth sailing. Being a nepo baby in the NBA comes with enormous pressure. There’s the expectation to live up to your parent’s legacy while also carving out your own identity. This is where Austin’s empathy for Bronny comes into play. Bronny will inevitably face similar scrutiny, with fans and analysts dissecting his every move, wondering if his success is purely a result of his father’s influence.

Rivers in February, when Bronny joining LeBron in LA was just a rumor, said he didn’t want to witness it. You might think it is hypocritical of him to say that but he just wanted to protect Bronny. “I don’t want to see Bronny play with his dad, I went through something similar… What happens is that everyone starts to discredit everything that you’ve done… I don’t want that negativity to come his way, he doesn’t deserve it.” 

Rivers didn’t hold back against critics as well and people who called it nepotism. “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.” River had to remind people that Bronny almost died on the court and recovered within a year to be in the NBA. 

As someone who has walked a similar path, Austin knows the challenges Bronny will face, but he’s confident that with LeBron’s mentorship and Bronny’s own hard work, the young guard has the potential to carve out a successful NBA career.