Nepotism debates surrounding LeBron and Bronny James stem from a longstanding stigma in America

LeBron James stood on court next to his son Bronny and couldn't help but glance over at him to take in moment. duo wore matching Los Angeles Lakers jerseys with “James” and “James Jr.” embroidered in big purple letters on ir backs.

“It was like matrix or something,” LeBron said afterward. “It just didn’t feel real.”

Lakers helped 39-year-old James realize a yearslong dream of playing alongside his son when y drafted Bronny with 55th overall pick in June, making way for m to become first far-son pair to play in an NBA game toger in a preseason matchup on Oct. 6.

Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka has described draft pick as “magical," while his organization has drawn criticisms about wher Bronny would have earned opportunity if his far wasn't one of game's greatest players. Those objections — albeit met with widespre excitement for James family — reignited conversations about nepotism in sports and how powerful figures leverage ir influence, while underscoring stigma around kids following in footsteps of a successful parent or family member.

“re’s always going to be people who are saying that things are nepotism,” said Alice Leppert, an associate professor of media and communication studies at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. “re’s going to be some cynical assumption that strings were pulled and basically that things are not fair.”

That's often based on people's desire to believe in a meritocracy, Leppert said, referring to system where someone gains status or rewards based on his or her abilities, not wealth or social status.

“In general, we don’t live in a meritocracy,” Leppert ded. “We want to live in a meritocracy, and that’s why we get se sorts of debates.”

For centuries, children born into rich and powerful families have inherited businesses, stardom and endless resources for success — a conspicuous display of power in Hollywood, politics and sports.

Critics of nepotism argue that those without same access to resources — i.e. producers and directors in entertainment industry, scouts and training facilities in sports — are left at a significant disvantage when it comes to opportunities.

Ors question why a practice so ingrained in society is being even being mentioned.

“I don’t want to hear se charges, people talking about nepotism," former ESPN NBA insider rian Wojnarowski said during NBA draft. “ NBA is full of nepotism. ownership level, front offices, coaching. I don’t want to hear it all of a sudden because Bronny James’ far plays for Lakers. It is rampant in this league.”

re have been about 100 instances in NBA history of players joining league after ir fars played. Those young men stepped into league after far's career ended, but y include Stephen and Dell Curry, Kobe and Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, Bill and Luke Walton, among ors.

Ken Griffey Sr. and Ken Griffey Jr. played toger with Seattle Mariners during parts of 1990 and 1991 MLB seasons. Hockey great Gordie Howe played with sons Marty and Mark for Houston Aeros in WHA and New England/Hartford Whalers in WHA and NHL.

In 65 schools that compete in major college football, re are at least 25 instances of family members on same coaching staff, according to an Associated Press examination of coaching rosters in 2022. In NFL, 16 of league’s 32 owners inherited ir teams from family, per a study done by USA Today.

“I think we’re resigned in this country to fact that if you own it, you can do whatever you want with it,” said David Grenardo, a law professor and sports law expert at University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. “So I’m owner. I can pass it down to my kids ... And that’s somewhat acceptable because that person has right to do with ir property what y want.”

That acceptance changes when it comes to athletes, Grenardo said.

"That is where we are completely uncomfortable with idea of someone getting an opportunity that y did not deserve," he said, noting intrigue of watching best compete against best in sports.

“So n when you have a situation where someone who may not be perceived as best is getting an opportunity over someone else, and now it’s not a meritocracy, now it’s become political, now it becomes, ‘well whose kid is that?’” Grenardo said.

That's where nepotism conversations have sprouted around Bronny, whose critics have argued that he was unproven before being drafted and has earned more attention than almost any or late second-round pick in NBA history.

After recovering from cardiac arrest over a year ago , Bronny played one season at Sourn California before entering draft. He has been praised for his athleticism, definsive ability and work ethic but averaged 4.8 points and 2.8 rebounds while starting six of 25 games for Trojans.

“Part of this discourse with LeBron and his son Bronny is that he is a visible African American athlete,” said C. Keith Harrison, a professor specializing in sports and business management at University of Central Florida. “And for some reason it’s being perceived that he’s not going to leverage any power and privileges that he has as an American, as an American Black man, as a successful athlete, entrepreneur or business person.”

Harrison pointed to plenty of examples of sports figures exercising ir influence through nepotism: Buss family's ownership of Lakers; Harbaugh family, which has an extensive football coaching lineage.

“If we have se monikers, or se approaches and se realities of nepotism, and people hiring who y are comfortable with ... when it comes to (LeBron) and his son Bronny, why is this popping up?” Harrison said.

Grenardo, separately, reached his own conclusion.

“Some of it may very well just be race,” he said. “That here’s a Black man who’s one of few Black billionaires and that’s an American. And he is using his power like ors have used ir power as well, but ‘I don’t like it that he now is that powerful.’”