The tension between superstar parenting and media scrutiny exploded courtside this week when LeBron James confronted ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith over comments about his son, Bronny—a fiery exchange that reignited debates about legacy, nepotism, and the microscope hovering over the NBA’s most scrutinized rookie.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through the basketball world, the Dallas Mavericks have agreed to trade superstar Luka Dončić to the...