The attention around Bronny James is going to be one of the most consistent things in the media. He is subjected to the good, bad, and madness that comes with his surname; especially as he aims to explore the NBA world. As the media attention spiraled, his agent, Rich Paul, silenced critics who focused on the element of nepotism. Paul declared to Bleacher Report that, “Bronny (James) shouldn’t apologize for who his dad is.”

As the 19-year-old player prepares to make his debut in the upcoming draft season, he has been endlessly compared to not just his father, LeBron James, but also other star players. “Is he a finished product? No, nowhere near. Most guys that come in our league aren’t at 18 and 19,” said Rich. The common sentiment amongst fans has been that Bronny couldn’t get a shot at this opportunity despite his surname.

Paul talked about the unfair treatment that Bronny has been subjected to just because of his father’s legacy. He said, “If his name was different, would he get a different treatment? Yes, probably so. Some may feel like he’s getting an opportunity because of his father and I think that’s a very naïve logic, especially in America.” Clearly, Paul strongly disagrees with the judgment being meted out to Bronny.

Paul opened up about his views on nepotism, especially in the league. He said, “When you look at America as a whole, it’s built on the nepotism”. Paul also cited the example of Jim Dolan, executive chairman of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp., the collective that owns the New York Knicks, and the fact that he inherited his empire from his father. He then said, “What do you think is going to happen with Jeff Bezos’ kids? He built Amazon. You think they’re not going to be positioned based upon what he’s built? And none of them should be apologetic about that. The only thing you can go by is being thankful, treating people a certain way, and enhancing something that you were positioned for. They shouldn’t apologize for that. And Bronny shouldn’t apologize for who his dad is.”

Paul expressed his faith in Bronny and his admiration for the young player’s character, saying, “He could easily be the one walking around with a camera crew, the entitlement, and all the trinkets. He’s not. He has a tremendous amount of self-awareness,” highlighting his humbleness. Paul even said that he knows Bronny will be a great teammate and that he’ll continue to get better. Bronny’s potential debut is causing a lot of stir, especially his highly anticipated, and “probable” union with his father, LeBron, in the Los Angeles Lakers. But there are many other options Bronny can look forward to.

Bronny James’ projected draft

After telling the world that Bronny will go undrafted this year, ESPN is back with another version of the post-combine NBA mock draft. This time, in a weird twist of fate, it is projected that the Boston Celtics might have a chance at landing Bronny as the #54 overall pick. The Celtics currently own a pick they acquired via the Dallas Mavericks and according to the report, they might land Bronny. Can this be possible? We don’t know for sure. It could happen, considering LeBron will go into free agency later this summer. And if the Celtics wanted to take advantage of this situation, they would try their best to get the father-son duo to grace the Boston side in the upcoming season. If this pans out, it will truly be a wild development coming in.

But then, why would an NBA legend want to leave a traditional and exemplary team like the Lakers? Naturally, this makes it easier for Bronny to stay by his father’s side and get on the Los Angeles side. LeBron too has expressed his wish to play with his son in the recent past and in an attempt to secure their extension with King James, the Lakers may look to draft Bronny. Both, College Sports Wire and Sporting News felt that the Lakers could acquire him through a #55 pick. Reportedly, Lakers’ rival Utah Jazz has also expressed interest in him. The Phoenix Suns are also rumored to want to conduct a work-out with Bronny before the draft, they currently hold the #22 pick.

Bronny James’ debut has been highly anticipated because of his lineage. After all, he is the son of the league’s most celebrated player. Although the discourse around nepotism is likely to persist, Bronny can look to carve a legacy for himself as he evolves as a player. Starting as a player under the shadow of LeBron James might prove difficult for the young player and his aspirations.