Boston Celtics reporter Jay King of The Athletic was having none of Adrian Wojnarowski’s defense of the Los Angeles Lakers using their No. 55 pick to draft LeBron James’ son, Bronny James — clowning the take as a clear case of nepotism due to the latter’s underwhelming one-and-done season at USC.
“’Don’t talk to me about nepotism,’ the broadcast declares after LeBron James’ team selects his son who averaged 4.8 points per game during his lone college season,” King zinged at Woj as the NBA draft’s second round was wrapping up.
Bronny’s selection was highly controversial heading into the draft due to Rich Paul allegedly threatening teams not to draft him or else risk the threat of him going to Australia; something that’s common practice but obviously basks in a new spotlight given the names and franchise involved.
The Celtics had the pick right before L.A. and could’ve pulled the biggest troll job of all time by taking Bronny, but they took Gonzaga’s Anton Watson, a six-foot-eight forward who averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists in his extra fifth year of eligibility due to COVID-19 with the No. 54 pick instead.
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Boston Celtics reporter clowns Woj’s defense of Lakers drafting Bronny James
By Andrew Hughes | Jun 27, 2024
The Athletic’s Jay King was wildly unimpressed with Woj’s defense of the Lakers drafting Bronny James
The Athletic’s Jay King was wildly unimpressed with Woj’s defense of the Lakers drafting Bronny James / David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Celtics reporter Jay King of The Athletic was having none of Adrian Wojnarowski’s defense of the Los Angeles Lakers using their No. 55 pick to draft LeBron James’ son, Bronny James — clowning the take as a clear case of nepotism due to the latter’s underwhelming one-and-done season at USC.
“’Don’t talk to me about nepotism,’ the broadcast declares after LeBron James’ team selects his son who averaged 4.8 points per game during his lone college season,” King zinged at Woj as the NBA draft’s second round was wrapping up.
Bronny’s selection was highly controversial heading into the draft due to Rich Paul allegedly threatening teams not to draft him or else risk the threat of him going to Australia; something that’s common practice but obviously basks in a new spotlight given the names and franchise involved.
Tim Legler urged Boston Celtics to troll Lakers by selecting Bronny James at pick No. 54
The Celtics had the pick right before L.A. and could’ve pulled the biggest troll job of all time by taking Bronny, but they took Gonzaga’s Anton Watson, a six-foot-eight forward who averaged 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists Boston Celtics reporter Jay King from The Athletic sharply criticized Adrian Wojnarowski’s defense of the Los Angeles Lakers’ decision to draft Bronny James with the 55th pick in the NBA draft. King dismissed Wojnarowski’s justification, labeling it as blatant nepotism, especially in light of Bronny’s modest performance during his single season at USC where he averaged just 4.8 points per game.
During the broadcast as the draft’s second round was concluding, King sarcastically retorted, “‘Don’t talk to me about nepotism,'” clearly suggesting his disapproval of the Lakers’ move to select LeBron James’ son.
Bronny James’ selection stirred controversy prior to the draft due to allegations that Rich Paul, Bronny’s agent, had warned teams against drafting him under the threat of Bronny pursuing alternative opportunities, possibly in Australia. This incident highlighted the intense scrutiny faced by high-profile families and franchises in the NBA.
Interestingly, the Boston Celtics had the opportunity to make a bold statement by picking just before the Lakers at number 54. They could have chosen Bronny James instead of Anton Watson from Gonzaga, a six-foot-eight forward with more established collegiate statistics (averaging 14.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in his extended fifth year due to COVID-19 disruptions).
Leading up to the draft, there was even banter on ESPN urging the Celtics to “troll” the Lakers by selecting Bronny James at their pick. Tim Legler, among others, playfully suggested the Celtics could reignite the storied rivalry by symbolically capturing the Lakers’ attention with such a move.
Ultimately, the Celtics opted for a different strategy, securing a solid draft including Watson and Baylor Scheierman with the 30th pick, reflecting Brad Stevens’ adept handling of the team’s draft assets since assuming the role of President of Basketball Operations.
In summary, Jay King’s critique of Wojnarowski’s defense underscores broader debates about meritocracy and family ties in professional sports, especially within the context of high-profile NBA franchises like the Lakers and Celtics. The incident with Bronny James’ draft selection serves as a focal point for discussions on fairness, influence, and the dynamics of NBA team operations.inperations.in his extra fifth year of eligibility due to COVID-19 with the No. 54 pick instead.
Tim Legler was actively urging Boston’s front office to do the unthinkable before the draft on ESPN airwaves, though.
“54th pick,” Legler prefaced before saying, “We renew the Cold War between the Celtics and the Lakers. The Boston Celtics take Bronnie James and send a ransom note to the Lakers: ‘We have your son. We have your son. If you want him back…If you want him back, it’s gonna take Austin Reeves.'”
We never got that troll job, but we did get a quietly solid draft (Watson, Baylor Scheierman at No. 30) from Brad Stevens — who had more draft ammunition than he’s ever had since
taking the President of Basketball Operations position in 2021.
