LeBron Still Doesn't Have Shit On Gordie Howe, Who Played In The NHL With 2 Of His Sons
Denis Brodeur. Getty Images.It was a massive day for nepotism yesterday as Bronny James was drafted to the Lakers with the 55th overall pick in the NBA Draft. Quick sidenote here but is nepotism has to be the best "-ism" you could possibly have, right? I know people shit on it all the time but that's because they're a bunch of losers who don't have wildly successful parents. I'd sign up for nepotism any day of the week.
But I digress. The fact of the matter here is that I'm sure Bronny James is a great athlete with a dedicated work ethic, but everybody knows the only reason he was drafted was because his old man calls the shots. And that's fine. Nothing wrong with that. LeBron was the best basketball player on the planet, so he's earned the right for a team to at least give a chance to a player that came from his nuts. However, this might be Lebron's last chance to get one of his sons to the NBA on his own. If Bronny doesn't turn out to be a half decent player, then I don't know if the league gives Bryce that chance.
Which means that until the end of time, LeBron will always be one behind the true goat--Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe.
Bettmann. Getty Images.Gordie Howe played 7 seasons with both of his sons, Marty and Mark. They spent the first 4 seasons together playing for the Houston Aeros in the WHA. In those first 3 seasons, Gordie had a combined 301 points. Guy was 45-47 years old during those years. Absolute sicko.
From Houston, all the Howe boys ended up playing for the New England Whalers in the WHA. In the 1977-78 season, Gordie and Mark Howe combined for 187 points with Gordie scoring 96 and Mark putting up 91. Gordie was 49 at the time and Mark was 22. Again, a sick bastard.
The New England Whalers ended up getting admitted into the NHL for the 1979 season after the NHL and WHA "merged". He was already a 6x Art Ross winner, 6x Hart Trophy winner and 4x Stanley Cup Champion. LeBron's 4th championship doesn't count, so he clears LeBron in all of those categories. But most importantly, this meant that he got to play in one NHL season with 2 of his sons.
Marty didn't play a ton that season, but Gordie and Mark combined for 121 points. Say what you want about nepotism, but Mark Howe ain't that. He went on to have a 16-year NHL career, was a Norris Trophy finalist 3 times, and is now in the Hockey Hall of Fame.
So congrats to LeBron on getting Bronny into the NBA yesterday. But he still has a ways to go before he can even be put in the same stratosphere as Gordie Howe.