LeBron James fires back at nepotism critics: Not letting that s slide

For more than two decades, LeBron James has stacked accomplishments at a pace few athletes in any sport can match.Championships, MVP awards, Olympic gold medals, and the NBA’s all-time scoring record have all found their way onto his resume.Yet when asked by TIME Magazine to identify the greatest achievement of his basketball life, LeBron didn’t mention any of them.“Out of all the sh-t I’ve done in basketball… that’s the best accomplishment I’ve ever had,” James said, referring to sharing an NBA court with his son, Bronny.The comment came as part of TIME’s profile naming James among the most influential figures in sports.

But for LeBron, the defining chapter of his career has become something deeply personal.When the Lakers selected Bronny James with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft it immediately sparked the debate about LeBron’s role in securing his son with the pick.Critics dismissed Bronny’s selection as pure nepotism.In the interview LeBron, once again, fired back at those critics;“The kid has earned his right to be a professional athlete,” James said.

“The thing you’re not going to do is throw stones at us as a family.I’m not letting that sh-t slide.”“So if you want to talk about the kid,” James continued.

“That he shouldn’t be an NBA player, I don’t care about that.As long as you don’t get to the fatherhood piece.

I don’t play those games.”It is difficult to argue that LeBron’s standing within the Lakers organization didn’t open doors for his son.But, the claim of nepotism never stopped.ESPN commentator and the James’ family chief critic Stephen A.

Smith repeatedly questioned Bronny’s NBA readiness and famously pleaded with LeBron to stop putting his son in a difficult position.This led to a heated altercation at a game, during which LeBron approached Smith courtside and fiercely told him to “stop effing with my son.”Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown drew headlines after being caught on cam...