NBA was 'full of nepotism' long before Lakers drafted LeBron James' son Bronny at 2024 NBA Draft, say Stephen A. Smith and Adrian Wojnarowski
READ MORE: LeBron's son Bronny gets drafted by the Lakers with 55th pickREAD MORE: Rich Paul tells teams not to draft Bronny James in the second round
Adrian Wojnarowski and Stephen A. Smith addressed nepotism in the NBA after the Los Angeles Lakers drafted LeBron James' son Bronny on Thursday.
The purple and gold selected Bronny with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft after his lone season at the University of Southern California, making him and LeBron the first father-and-son tandem in the league.
With the accusations of nepotism pointing toward the James family, Wojnarowski stressed how the issue has always existed around the association long before Bronny's selection.
'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.'
Meanwhile, Smith nodded in agreement and echoed 'full of it' as Wojnarowski made his remarks.
![Stephen A. Smith](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/23/86671361-13577997-image-a-62_1719528404930.jpg)
![Adrian Wojnarowski](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/23/86671359-13577997-image-a-63_1719528404931.jpg)
Adrian Wojnarowski and Stephen A. Smith addressed existence of nepotism in the NBA
Woj: "I don't want to hear the charges, people talking about nepotism. 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." pic.twitter.com/LW9FI6BLOX
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 27, 2024
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Bronny James is a LAKER! LeBron's son is drafted by LA in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft
![article image](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/23/86671881-0-image-a-16_1719528343725.jpg)
'I don't want to hear about it - all of a sudden - because Bronny James' father plays for the Lakers,' the NBA insider continued. 'It is rampant in this league.'
Bronny entered the draft after only one season with USC in the NCAA.
As a freshman, the former Sierra Canyon star played in 25 games and made six starts for the Trojans. In his lone college campaign, Bronny averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists as his team finished with a 15-18 record, placing ninth in the Pac-12.
LeBron, meanwhile, just wrapped up his 20th season in the NBA.
Bronny James is selected 55th overall by the @Lakers in the 2024 #NBADraft presented by State Farm!
Watch the Second Round on ESPN. pic.twitter.com/BnxozT7CGj
— NBA (@NBA) June 27, 2024
![The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/28/00/86671357-13577997-The_Los_Angeles_Lakers_selected_Bronny_James_with_the_55th_pick_-a-12_1719529548004.jpg)
The Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft
![LeBron and Bronny James will be the first father and son to play together in the NBA](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/23/86671355-13577997-image-a-65_1719528507505.jpg)
LeBron and Bronny James will be the first father and son to play together in the NBA
![LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists for the Lakers last season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/23/86671353-13577997-image-a-66_1719528509707.jpg)
LeBron averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists for the Lakers last season
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Bronny James' agent Rich Paul 'is telling them NOT to draft LeBron's son in the 2024 NBA Draft'
![article image](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/06/27/22/86670331-0-image-a-15_1719525025836.jpg)
This past season, James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists while shooting 54 percent from the field.
The Lakers fell to the Denver Nuggets, 4-1, in the opening round of the NBA playoffs.
Back in May, a source told DailyMail.com that the Lakers were favored to draft LeBron's junior. The Portland Trailblazers, Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors, and LA Clippers were also named candidates.
Bronny joins the Lakers a week after JJ Redick got hired as their head coach. The NBA guard turned media personality has no prior coaching experience in the NBA but signed to a four-year deal worth $8million per season.