Nepotism In Sports

When watching any professional sports, it’s easy to forget how much work and dedication the players have put in to get there. They put their blood, sweat, and tears into a game that they cherish. But what if there was a shortcut through a majority of those hardships? 

Nepotism, or preferential treatment over others due to familial connections, has become a problem in just about any professional setting, whether it be the workplace, academics, or even politics, it has become much more frequent and abundant. This nepotistic problem is most evident in sports. These players have been able to slip past many of the trials and tribulations that others had to face based on their names alone. Here are some of the most egregious and recent examples of nepotism outweighing logic: 

Bronny James:

The son of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, basketball players of all time, LeBron James, Bronny James has constantly had high expectations. Even in high school, there were  pictures and videos of Lebron attending his games as Bronny was stalked constantly. After graduating high school he attended USC, where he would suffer cardiac arrest and be hospitalized before the season even started. After his first season, where he was mostly a bench player who averaged 4.8 points per game, 2.8 rebounds per game, and 2.1 assists per game, ——, he declared for the 2024 NBA Draft. He would be drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, the team his father plays for, in the second round. Lebron and Bronny would make history, becoming the first father-son duo to play together in an NBA game. However, he would be promptly benched and given minimal playing time, switching between the G League and sitting on the bench. It’s no secret that Lebron heavily influenced USC’s decision to give Bronny a scholarship, let alone be drafted to the NBA. His stats in his first season were downright terrible, and if it weren’t for his name, he probably wouldn’t have even played in college. Not to mention his significant health issues which could potentially risk his life. However, Bronny isn’t terrible and has a future in the NBA, with the Golden State Warriors saying there was a chance they would’ve drafted him, but for his wellbeing he should’ve stuck in college for at least a few more years, gaining experience and skill.

Thanasis Antetokounmpo:

Born and raised in Greece, Thanasis Antetokounmpo and his brother Giannis Antetokounmpo struggled with poverty for most of their life but found solace in basketball. Giannis would soon be recognized for his dominant play by international scouts and be selected in the first round of the 2013 NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks with the 13th pick. While he has become one of the most dominant players of this generation with two MVPs and one Finals MVP, there were rumors early on in his career that he missed his family and felt lonely for much of his rookie year. To help Giannis cope, the Bucks decided to draft his elder brother Thanasis the very next year in the second round. Thanasis has seen little to no playing time as a Buck but has quickly become a fan favorite with fans chanting for him to be put in the game during blowouts. It may seem confusing as to why Thanasis is still in the league with his minimal skill and talent, but fans assume he is only there to keep Giannis happy. 

Lance Stroll:

The son of multi-billionaire Lawrence Stroll, Lance has been able to skip most of the challenges that come with Formula 1. Before drivers are signed to drive in Formula 1, most of them need to drive in Formula 3 and Formula 2, less skilled leagues, and dominate to be recognized by the major teams. However, Lawrence Stroll bought the Formula 3 team, Prema Powerteam, with the intent to make his son one of the two drivers. Lawrence would then apply illegal parts to Lance’s car that made him faster, allowing him to dominate in Formula 3. His driving, with an illegal car, was so impressive that he skipped Formula 2 altogether and made the jump to Williams Racing, one of the ten teams in Formula 1. Coincidentally, his father was a co-owner of the team, giving millions of dollars to help the team succeed. After two years of mediocre driving, Lance would move to Aston Martin F1, where once again Lawrence would buy the team, this time for around $235 million. At this point, Lance has driven in Formula 1 for eight years and has been outclassed by nearly every other driver. Currently, Lance has the fifth-fastest car on the grid but sits at an abysmal 13th on the driver’s standings. Not to mention that his father buying teams and giving him a guaranteed seat, has stopped younger and more talented drivers from coming into Formula 1.