There is an ongoing feud between the two men

LeBron

LeBronMichael ConroyLAPRESSE

LeBron James continues to enjoy a remarkable NBA career, still securing MVPs and setting records. However, his prominence has also drawn criticism, some of which seems misplaced. A recent example involves ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins, who has raised concerns about how LeBron’s influence might affect his son Bronny James‘ prospects in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The issue came up during a discussion on the “Road Trippin'” podcast, where Richard Jefferson and other co-hosts were talking about LeBron‘s impact on media ratings, particularly how his move from the East to the West Coast has driven higher viewership for ESPN.

While the conversation initially focused on LeBron‘s unparalleled star power, Perkins shifted the narrative, suggesting that this influence might be leading the media to overly promote Bronny for their own gain.

Jefferson attempted to clarify the difference between being a superstar and a megastar, but Perkins stood by his point, arguing that the media feels compelled to cover Bronny because of LeBron‘s influence, rather than solely on Bronny‘s merits.

Perkins suggested that this coverage is more about maintaining media ratings than genuinely assessing Bronny’s basketball talent.

“That motherf***er Bron is so powerful,” Perkins said. “The [2024] draft, we had to talk about his son Bronny just to keep people engaged,”

An ongoing feud

This isn’t the first time Perkins has voiced concerns about the media’s focus on Bronny. On a previous episode of NBA Today, he argued that other young players, who might be more deserving of attention, are being overshadowed by the extensive coverage of Bronny.

“The lottery guys, the guys that are actually going to get drafted in the first round,” Perkins noted.

“We’re talking about a young man that’s possibly going to go late second round or not get drafted at all.”

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Perkins believes that the media’s focus on LeBron’s son might be driven by the legacy and influence of LeBron rather than an objective evaluation of Bronny‘s skills.

Critics of Perkins‘ stance argue that it’s natural for Bronny to receive attention given LeBron’s enormous impact on the sport. They suggest that the media’s coverage of Bronny is a reflection of the public’s interest in the James family’s ongoing legacy.