Former NBA player Chandler Parsons has stirred up controversy with his latest comments regarding Austin Rivers playing for his father, Doc Rivers. Parsons believes that it is more “strange” for Austin to play for Doc than for Bronny James to play with his father, LeBron James, on the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a recent interview, Parsons expressed his opinion that players often feel a sense of favoritism when a coach is also their father. He argued that players may feel slighted if they are not given adequate playing time or opportunities, and that this can lead to resentment.
A Tweet read,
“Chandler Parsons believes it’s more ‘strange’ that Austin Rivers got to play for Doc Rivers than Bronny James getting to play with his father on the Lakers ““A player is always gonna feel some way about the coach. ‘Uh, he snubbed me. You subbed me out too early.’ Three minutes to go, and he looks down the bench and picks Austin to go in instead of me. I’m gonna feel a little slighted by that. I can’t help but think that’s favoritism.””
Chandler Parsons believes it’s more ‘strange’ that Austin Rivers got to play for Doc Rivers than Bronny James getting to play with his father on the Lakers
“A player is always gonna feel some way about the coach. ‘Uh, he snubbed me. You subbed me out too early.’
Three minutes… pic.twitter.com/i4DddS4PzN— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) October 14, 2024
Background on Austin Rivers and Doc Rivers
Austin Rivers played for his father, Doc Rivers, during the 2014-2015 season with the Los Angeles Clippers. This made them the first father-son duo to share the court in NBA history. While the experience was unique, it also drew criticism and accusations of nepotism. Despite the challenges, both Rivers emphasized that their relationship was professional and focused on winning.
Chandler Parsons’ Perspective
Chandler Parsons, who played for several NBA teams, including the Clippers, shared his candid thoughts on the situation. Parsons believes that having a coach who is also a family member can create feelings of favoritism among players. He pointed out that players might feel slighted if they are benched or substituted in critical moments, especially when the coach’s son is involved.
Comparing Austin Rivers and Bronny James
Parsons also compared Austin Rivers’ situation to that of Bronny James, who is set to play for his father, LeBron James, with the Los Angeles Lakers. Parsons found it “strange” that Austin Rivers got to play for his father, while Bronny James’ situation has drawn more attention and scrutiny. Parsons suggested that the dynamics of father-son relationships in professional sports can be complex and potentially problematic.
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