Giannis Antetokounmpo has never been one to chase clout on social media, but even he had to step in when the internet went too far. In the latest viral basketball debate, critics took aim at LeBron James yet again, reviving the tired claim that “he has no bag.”
But this time, the King fired back with trademark composure, and the Greek Freak wasn’t far behind to support him.
During a recent episode of Mind The Game, LeBron James finally addressed the long-running “no bag” narrative, a critique aimed at his perceived lack of flash or advanced dribble combos. James didn’t rant. He reflected.
“I see it all the time. I’ll be on social media and it’s like, ‘LeBron has no bag.’ And I’m sitting here with like 50 billion points.”
It was a masterclass in understated dominance. But it also hit home for Giannis, a superstar who’s faced similar criticism for his straight-line drives, physicality, and “bully-ball” style.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Giannis reposted LeBron’s quote and added:
“If there are people out there that believe that one of the greatest players to ever be on earth has no bag… Man I’ve seen it all ♂️.”
It was a rare but powerful show of solidarity, one MVP backing another against a wave of TikTok-fueled disrespect.
The term “bag” in today’s game has become almost a meme shorthand for flashy dribble moves, ankle-breakers, and off-balance stepbacks. But Giannis, like LeBron, grew up watching a different kind of basketball.
One rooted in efficiency, dominance, and getting to your spot, not dancing around for style points. The irony? Both LeBron and Giannis still rack up highlight plays they just don’t need 15 dribbles to do it.
In 2025, James is still performing at an elite level at age 40, averaging 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists. He ranked 13th in the league in scoring and continues to quarterback the Lakers like a grandmaster.
Giannis, too, has faced the “no bag” critique throughout his career, even as he’s racked up MVPs, a Defensive Player of the Year award, and led the Bucks to a title in 2021. The label never made sense for a player averaging over 30 points in each of the last three seasons while being one of the league’s most devastating two-way forces.
What Giannis and LeBron remind us is simple: basketball greatness isn’t about style points. It’s about impact. Footwork, timing, strength, and vision, those things don’t go viral, but they win games.
In a world obsessed with “handles,” it’s easy to forget that LeBron James has been dominating the NBA for over two decades with a toolkit so advanced that it reshaped the game. If that’s not a bag, it’s time to redefine the term. And Giannis Antetokounmpo made sure the world heard it loud and clear.
