2024-25 NBA Thread

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

You can hate the hype - but it most certainly is a story.

[WhiteTrash]

The Bronny hype and the Bronny hate are both entirely stupid.

Guys like Kenny Smith don't help, if anything he stokes the "hate" by selling Bronny as a legit NBA player and not the beneficiary of who his dad is. In fact last night he painted Bronny as a player who had to overcome the fact that LeBron wasn't always there to help him with his game. Can anyone get behind the narrative that Bronny is in the NBA in spite of his family?

For the record, I have zero problem with Bronny being drafted and playing for the Lakers. If your parents can get you into Harvard or a hedge fund or the NBA, good for you and good for these parents who want the best for their children. The world could use more of that.

[MuggsyB]

You can hate the hype - but it most certainly is a story.

Canon Curry should be next. 

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Guys like Kenny Smith don't help, if anything he stokes the "hate" by selling Bronny as a legit NBA player and not the beneficiary of who his dad is. In fact last night he painted Bronny as a player who had to overcome the fact that LeBron wasn't always there to help him with his game. Can anyone get behind the narrative that Bronny is in the NBA in spite of his family?

For the record, I have zero problem with Bronny being drafted and playing for the Lakers. If your parents can get you into Harvard or a hedge fund or the NBA, good for you and good for these parents who want the best for their children. The world could use more of that.

The world could use more nepotism???

[WhiteTrash]

The world could use more nepotism???

"good for these parents who want the best for their children."

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

"good for these parents who want the best for their children."

I would suggest that using your connections to get your kids somewhere they don't deserve to be otherwise isn't best for them.

[MuggsyB]

Guys like Kenny Smith don't help, if anything he stokes the "hate" by selling Bronny as a legit NBA player and not the beneficiary of who his dad is. In fact last night he painted Bronny as a player who had to overcome the fact that LeBron wasn't always there to help him with his game. Can anyone get behind the narrative that Bronny is in the NBA in spite of his family?

For the record, I have zero problem with Bronny being drafted and playing for the Lakers. If your parents can get you into Harvard or a hedge fund or the NBA, good for you and good for these parents who want the best for their children. The world could use more of that.

Maybe Lebron should have gotten Bronny into Harvard and a hedge fund?

[WhiteTrash]

Maybe Lebron should have gotten Bronny into Harvard and a hedge fund?

I'm sure he could have. And people would complain about it also.

I will concede the NBA is different as the rosters and salaries are fixed unlike Harvard or a hedge fund, so he is taking the place of a deserving player, and I concede that the contract for that player would be life changing as opposed to some extra spending money for Bronny.

But I guess the the fact that Bronny is a decent player (not NBA talent) and is hard working and from a business perspective, as that is all the NBA is, it moves the needle for publicity and makes the most important employee happy, I'm okay with it.

[MuggsyB]

I'm sure he could have. And people would complain about it also.

I will concede the NBA is different as the rosters and salaries are fixed unlike Harvard or a hedge fund, so he is taking the place of a deserving player, and I concede that the contract for that player would be life changing as opposed to some extra spending money for Bronny.

But I guess the the fact that Bronny is a decent player (not NBA talent) and is hard working and from a business perspective, as that is all the NBA is, it moves the needle for publicity and makes the most important employee happy, I'm okay with it.

But what's best for Bronny is a different question.  I think Fluffy makes a valid point. 

[4everwarriors]

Too bad #9 isn't NBA caliber, hey?

[WhiteTrash]

But what's best for Bronny is a different question.  I think Fluffy makes a valid point.

Good point, but also a tough call on who knows what is best for Bronny.

I could see this play out where Bronny gets some time as an NBA player and spins that into an executive position at Clutch. He'd have the cache' of "being  a player". Maybe Dad's looking at this as a career path stepping stone.

[MUBurrow]

I would suggest that using your connections to get your kids somewhere they don't deserve to be otherwise isn't best for them.

Ehhh I don't know about that.  Best for society? Certainly not. But for every tale of failed self-actualization because someone found themselves somewhere they didn't deserve, I think there are two stories of people who just collected their $200 as they passed go and were far better off than they would be on their own merits.

[Verypolitical Warrior]

I would suggest that using your connections to get your kids somewhere they don't deserve to be otherwise isn't best for them.

Getting paid an NBA salary will always be what's best for him

[TallTitan34]

Getting paid an NBA salary will always be what's best for him

While I never blame a player for taking a payday, I don't think Bronny is hurting for money.

[TallTitan34]

I would suggest that using your connections to get your kids somewhere they don't deserve to be otherwise isn't best for them.

Completely agree with this.  Instead of taking the time to develop his game, he's going into the NBA overmatched with the pressure of everyone looking at him to see if he deserves it or not.  He didn't get thrown into the deep end.  He got thrown into the middle of the Pacific.

[CountryRoads]

Completely agree with this.  Instead of taking the time to develop his game, he's going into the NBA overmatched with the pressure of everyone looking at him to see if he deserves it or not.  He didn't get thrown into the deep end.  He got thrown into the middle of the Pacific.

I don't think any of it matters. He's a fringe P6 starter talent at best. Might as well strike while the iron is hot and while LeBron is still playing.

[wadesworld]

Having the Jameses and the Griffeys get a picture together is funny.  3 of the 4 people in that picture were worthy of being called a professional athlete.  The 4th was just someone's son.

[WhiteTrash]

Having the Jameses and the Griffeys get a picture together is funny.  3 of the 4 people in that picture were worthy of being called a professional athlete.  The 4th was just someone's son.

ZING!

[JWags85]

The Bronny hype and the Bronny hate are both entirely stupid.

Having the Jameses and the Griffeys get a picture together is funny.  3 of the 4 people in that picture were worthy of being called a professional athlete.  The 4th was just someone's son.

I think now that the draft related fervor is over, the "hate" will be this sort of stuff that is just forced narrative.  Like the check-in for Bronny in the first half was just a nonsense photo op for Lebron.

Jalen Hood Schifino is a 2nd year player with experience who was a top 20 pick, had more minutes and notably better stats than Bronny all preseason...and was a DNP but Bronny got run in the first half.  That wasn't garbage time for a 12th man, that was "make sure Lebron gets his photo op/shine with Bronny in the season opener in case the game gets close again".

Its not hate to say its a silly sideshow at this point to glorify Lebron, especially if they keep manufacturing minutes for Bronny.

That being said, I will admit that JJ ran some really interesting sets and had some really cool motion concepts in the Laker offense.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

It made perfect sense to play Bronny yesterday. Get it out of the way...at home...on tip off night.  Everyone gets the photo op, because it is actually a story, and moves on.

The sideshow only becomes an issue if Bronny continues to play and doesn't do anything.

But again, the Lakers are OK with this, so unless you are a Laker fan, everyone else can just do a collective shoulder shrug.

[Shaka Shart]

Lebron being a top 10 player in his Vince Carter year is just absolutely mind boggling. Thats probably why he got his son a couple mins of playing time.

[Pakuni]

I would suggest that using your connections to get your kids somewhere they don't deserve to be otherwise isn't best for them.

I mean, a few have ended up as presidents. That's pretty good for them.

[Pakuni]

I think now that the draft related fervor is over, the "hate" will be this sort of stuff that is just forced narrative.  Like the check-in for Bronny in the first half was just a nonsense photo op for Lebron.

Jalen Hood Schifino is a 2nd year player with experience who was a top 20 pick, had more minutes and notably better stats than Bronny all preseason...and was a DNP but Bronny got run in the first half.  That wasn't garbage time for a 12th man, that was "make sure Lebron gets his photo op/shine with Bronny in the season opener in case the game gets close again".

Its not hate to say its a silly sideshow at this point to glorify Lebron, especially if they keep manufacturing minutes for Bronny.

That being said, I will admit that JJ ran some really interesting sets and had some really cool motion concepts in the Laker offense.

It's insane the number and loudness of people who are legitimately upset about this. Why? It's meaningless. It's getting bothered for the sake of getting bothered.
It's akin to people getting mad every time the camera shows Taylor Swift during a Chiefs game. Different subject, same energy.
I know I shouldn't be in the business of judging what people should and should not  be upset about, but if this is something you're upset about, you probably are too online.

[tower912]

Preach.

[MuggsyB]

It's insane the number and loudness of people who are legitimately upset about this. Why? It's meaningless. It's getting bothered for the sake of getting bothered.
It's akin to people getting mad every time the camera shows Taylor Swift during a Chiefs game. Different subject, same energy.
I know I shouldn't be in the business of judging what people should and should not  be upset about, but if this is something you're upset about, you probably are too online.

People are "upset about this" because a lot of them do not like Lebron James for a plethora of reasons.  They believe this has nothing to do with Bronny, but instead is all about Lebron.   If I'm not mistaken he has been talking about playing with his son in the NBA for the past 5 years.  It's also worth noting that  Bronny being a McD AA may have had something to do with Lebron and not his basketball skills.

In my opinion, people are also "upset" because Lebron and the media are trying to insult their intelligence.   People are sick of being hoodwinked in general Pakuni, and this doesn't help. If the Lakers, Lebron , and sycophants  were just straight with the public no one would give a S.   Everyone is entitled to their opinion and it's not remotely "insane" that this bothers some people.