Stephen A Smith is a clown

Bigs23 said:
I think Bronny is fair game. I don’t think LeBron’s parenting is, but nothing seems to be off limit these days.

If you talk smack about my parenting don’t be offended if I call you out on it.
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I assume there are distinctions to be made regarding what is parenting and what is simply path paving nepotism. Bronny was an outright bad player his one year at USC. He was likely substantially overrated as a HS prospect. Most of the predraft analysis I consumed said he an UDFA level player, who might get a camp invite, if not for his name. Admittedly, his medical incident does muddy the water re: his nba projection. I think criticizing LeBron for paving the way for a player lacking merit is totally fair, particularly when Bronny has been woefully bad at the nba level. His g league stats do tell a different story.

Where this bleeds into “parenting” vs nepotism I don’t know. Giannis deserves criticism, too. Doc Rivers gave his kid opportunities likely no other coach would. Lots of prior examples of nepotism, we’ve just never had one near this high profile, in a parent/kid dynamic, and that can kick some shit up.
 
Healing said:
I assume there are distinctions to be made regarding what is parenting and what is simply path paving nepotism. Bronny was an outright bad player his one year at USC. He was likely substantially overrated as a HS prospect. Most of the predraft analysis I consumed said he an UDFA level player, who might get a camp invite, if not for his name. Admittedly, his medical incident does muddy the water re: his nba projection. I think criticizing LeBron for paving the way for a player lacking merit is totally fair, particularly when Bronny has been woefully bad at the nba level. His g league stats do tell a different story.

Where this bleeds into “parenting” vs nepotism I don’t know. Giannis deserves criticism, too. Doc Rivers gave his kid opportunities likely no other coach would. Lots of prior examples of nepotism, we’ve just never had one near this high profile, in a parent/kid dynamic, and that can kick some shit up.
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agreed. small correction - giannis' brother, not his kid.
 
Healing said:
I assume there are distinctions to be made regarding what is parenting and what is simply path paving nepotism. Bronny was an outright bad player his one year at USC. He was likely substantially overrated as a HS prospect. Most of the predraft analysis I consumed said he an UDFA level player, who might get a camp invite, if not for his name. Admittedly, his medical incident does muddy the water re: his nba projection. I think criticizing LeBron for paving the way for a player lacking merit is totally fair, particularly when Bronny has been woefully bad at the nba level. His g league stats do tell a different story.

Where this bleeds into “parenting” vs nepotism I don’t know. Giannis deserves criticism, too. Doc Rivers gave his kid opportunities likely no other coach would. Lots of prior examples of nepotism, we’ve just never had one near this high profile, in a parent/kid dynamic, and that can kick some shit up.
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Bronny had a strong combine he might have been drafted on that alone. We’ll never know but burning pick 55 on the legacy of an all-timer isn’t a huge risk or disservice to anyone.
 
Bigs23 said:
Bronny had a strong combine he might have been drafted on that alone. We’ll never know but burning pick 55 on the legacy of an all-timer isn’t a huge risk or disservice to anyone.
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Yeah, that's what I've never really understood with all the Bronny criticism. He's not that good now. But what if there's a 2% chance that he's got untapped potential to be a really good player (if not quite all-NBA)? It's the #55 pick. Take him, play him, see what happens. It's a high-risk strategy, sensible when the opportunity cost is very low.
 
Bigs23 said:
Bronny had a strong combine he might have been drafted on that alone. We’ll never know but burning pick 55 on the legacy of an all-timer isn’t a huge risk or disservice to anyone.
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I’m not criticizing teams taking fliers on upside in the second round, and yes, LeBron as your dad factors into the projection. That said, Bronny is 6’1”, came into the league with limited shot making ability, and limited playmaking off the dribble. There’s not a great precedent for that guy in the modern NBA, and that profile isnt a typical “flier” pick. Maybe he becomes Gary Harris (career 37% 3pt) or Cory Joseph (reliable backup PG), he just has a long ways to go.
 
Bigs23 said:
SAS pleaded with LeBron, as a father, to “stop it”. That’s right up to if not crossing a line.
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Where and when did he say that? Because this is what he said that made LeBron confront him.

dukeman92 said:
That's not what he said at all. He actually said the EXACT opposite.

"That's all I'm saying with LeBron. The best of intentions, wonderful father by all accounts. I'm not casting any aspersions on him. I'm saying, that's your son, bro. You know the game of basketball. He ain't ready yet. Why put him in that position? You had your moment being on the court with him. Now that kid's got to go earn his stripes, which I believe he will do."
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superrific said:
I have questions about the self-awareness of a post that infers that a father doesn't "gives a shit" about his son's well being without having ever met him, inferring a negative personality trait from a couple of public appearances. And I also question the self-awareness of a post that claims to know that Lebron is doing his son a disservice by not "making him earn it like everyone else." It's not clear to me that's a disservice; it's not clear to me that Bronny hasn't earned it (note: whether Bronny deserves it is a different question entirely than whether he earned it); it's not clear that Bron or Bronny have ever had issues.

From my perspective, Bron wanting to play with his son speaks to fatherly attachment, not self-detachment. He took a pay cut so Bronny's contract didn't cost the Lakers anything. That Bron follows his sons' careers and undoubtedly gives advice, helps teach, offers support etc is a lot more than one can say about a lot of other NBA stars, including MJ.

As far as Lebon unraveling and attacking when he hears no, I mean, what the hell are you talking about?

Bron has been hearing no his whole career -- mostly from haters among fans who have irrational issues with him. Listen to his speech after winning the NBA title. He's basically like, "fuck the haters, I realized my dream and I didn't grow up with privilege" And that is entirely fair.
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So much contradicting yourself left and right. So, I’m unfairly inferring something about lebron as a father from “a couple of public appearances,” meantime over here in reality, it’s been a dog and pony show with that mediocre-ass kid for years now, not just “a couple public appearances.” Yet you’re apparently not inferring anything about “a lot of other NBA stars, including MJ.” Have you met MJ and “a lot of other NBA stars,” as you challenged me on my standing when I made plain-as-day observations based on said dog and pony show?

And nope, Lebron has never heard “no” his entire career, not since even before he was driving a hummer and wearing $500 throwback jerseys in his “under privileged” upbringing in HS. “I don’t like you and I don’t want you to win” is not close to the same as hearing “no.” Being told you’re not allowed to do something, that’s what hearing “no” means. The lakers and Redick’s spineless ass catered to his make-a-wish, as did the rest of the league and almost all journalists… enablers and yes-men like he’s been surrounded by since 13. SAS did not cater to him (just this once), and lebron unraveled and attacked him. Get it now?

And here’s another of the rare journalists to have some balls and call out this charade, back when Bronny made McD’s AA over guys like AJ Johnson who’s killing it with the Wizards (on his own merit), and Jackson Shelstad who just had a great run with Oregon and happened to hand Bronny his ass in a head to head matchup their senior year. So here’s what Frank Burlison had to say about his name and notoriety getting him into the McD’s game:

Burlison, who was inducted into the U.S. Basketball Writers Association's Hall of Fame in 2005, said being the son of LeBron James had a clear impact on Bronny being selected.
“I don’t want this to sound negative about what I think of (Bronny) as a player,’’ said Burlison, the last original member of the selection committee still voting. “But if he wasn’t LeBron’s son, and I’d seen him at a different high school, I’d say, ‘He’s a good player. He’s top whatever in California, he’s a D-1 guard.' But we wouldn’t be debating whether he’s a McDonald’s All American or anything like that, that’s for sure.”
 
Bigs23 said:
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That was after LeBron confronted him for simply saying Bronny was only with the Lakers because of LeBron, which everyone knows is true, and after LeBron went on the Pat McAfee show talking about the whole ordeal instead of just moving on. Smith didn't say anything about LeBron being a bad father. Even that clip he's not saying LeBron is a bad father. Really reaching here.
 
Carolina Fever said:
That was after LeBron confronted him for simply saying Bronny was only with the Lakers because of LeBron, which everyone knows is true, and after LeBron went on the Pat McAfee show talking about the whole ordeal instead of just moving on. Smith didn't say anything about LeBron being a bad father. Even that clip he's not saying LeBron is a bad father. Really reaching here.
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Yeah he insulted him as a father. That is obvious. Don’t blame Lebron for being pissed at that Kermit the Frog looking geek.
 
Carolina Fever said:
Where did he talk smack about the parenting? He just said Bronny wasn't ready to be with the Lakers and LeBron knew it.
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It doesn’t make any difference if LeBron knew it or not. As a parent or grandparent of a kid playing sports, you don’t want someone else pointing out his shortcomings.
 
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