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Kendrick Perkins Claims Bronny James Coverage was Forced

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Nick Wright | Last updated Jan 11, 2025 1:24 PM ET

In a contentious podcast appearance earlier this season, ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins ignited controversy by suggesting that media coverage of Bronny James's NBA draft selection was artificially inflated due to his father's star power.

"That motherf----r Bron is so powerful. The [2024] draft, we had to talk about his son Bronny just to keep people engaged," Perkins said during an episode of "Road Trippin'" where the discussion had initially centered around LeBron James's impact on ESPN's ratings.

Perkins' frustration emerged as the result of what he saw as an unjustifiable amount of coverage going to Bronny James, arguing that all the coverage of Bronny was overshadowing more draft-worthy prospects - a sentiment he has sense echoed throughout the rookie's first season.

Co-host Richard Jefferson attempted to frame the discourse as simply the natural state of coverage when a player reaches megastar status, but Perkins doubled down on his criticism:

"The lottery guys, the guys that are actually going to get drafted in the first round. We're talking about a young man that's possibly going to go late second round or not get drafted at all."

The remarks came amid ongoing tension between Perkins and the elder James, stemming from a May incident where Perkins accused James of "weaseling his way into somebody else's moment" following James's comments about former teammate Kyrie Irving. That exchange resulted in James blocking Perkins on social media.

Fellow analysts have pushed back against Perkins's stance, arguing that media interest in Bronny James reflects both the natural benefits of his father's legacy and the media's own pursuit of ratings rather than any orchestrated campaign.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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