Lakers Legend Michael Cooper Defends LeBron, Bronny James from 'Nepotism' Backlash

Los Angeles Lakers legend Michael Cooper does not believe "nepotism" influenced his former team to select LeBron James' son, Bronny James, with the No. 55 pick of the 2024 NBA draft.

"When you're that good, people try to find little knicks and knacks about you, but this is not about nepotism at all," Cooper told Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson of Scoop B Radio (2:20 mark.). "It's about drafting a young player that could definitely help the Lakers in the long run, and he happens to have the name James."

Cooper also described the Lakers' decision to draft Bronny James "one of the greatest things to ever happen."

"LeBron James, his father, has done so much for the game of basketball... now he's being the first player to ever play with his son, and why not do it in a Lakers uniform?" Cooper asked.

This is not the first time Cooper has publicly supported the franchise's decision to draft Bronny James.

"I think that was a good draft pick," Cooper told TMZ Sports the week after the 2024 draft. "Bronny is a good player, he is only going to get better and obviously it keeps LeBron in L.A. to play with his son. Another first for him as he's broken so many records already. That's a great opportunity for him to play with his son. First player to ever do that, I think that's fantastic."

After winning five titles in 12 seasons with the Lakers between 1978 and 1990, Cooper was inducted this year into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Lakers are honoring him with a jersey retirement ceremony on Jan. 13.

It seems unlikely that both Bronny and LeBron James will be playing that night, as ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported in July that the rookie is expected to spend most of the 2024-25 season in the G League, but it sounds like Cooper is still anticipating the younger James will play a key role for the Lakers in the future.