In the Bucks’ 120-118 win over the Pistons on Wednesday, Giannis Antetokounmpo went out in a blaze of smoke after being ejected from the game. The second technical foul, which was issued just 22 minutes into the game, was given to Giannis for staring down his opponent after a particularly nasty dunk. The move generated a lot of reactions online, and LeBron James himself became the latest to offer his thoughts with a short and simple reply on X.
🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/oYLdgIFBmJ
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 10, 2023
LeBron has waged war against the officials plenty of times over the past two decades, but he rarely gets a technical foul and has only ever gotten thrown out of a game twice in a 20-year span. But when it comes it this issue and whether or not Giannis crossed the line, LeBron made his point clear enough. Not only was Giannis’ tech unfair, but it was also bad for the game itself. If the NBA can’t allow their athletes to celebrate after a basket or any intense moment on the floor, then it will take away from the natural excitement of the game. Clearly, LeBron agrees with this argument in some aspects.
Are Player Celebrations Bad For The Game?
Technically speaking, the NBA does have rules against taunting. According to the official source, a technical foul can be assessed for any player who blatantly taints an opponent, and that includes stare-downs, flexes, step-overs, and even verbal trash talk if it crosses a certain line. By taking these measures, the NBA is trying to avoid any risk of violence or aggression on the court that can result from showboating and all forms of taunting. Even so, players deserve to celebrate after a successful possession and it lets players see how intense the passion can get during games.
For a guy like LeBron James, it’s easy to see how he’d be against giving a technical foul for something like that even if he doesn’t resort to such methods himself. As a pioneer for the game and a face of the league, he has always spoken honestly about matters concerning the league and he has made it known that the anti-taunting rules are starting to get too far.
LeBron Is A Master At Keeping His Cool
Over his career so far, James has yet to receive a foul for over-excessive taunting but it doesn’t mean he hasn’t gotten loud during plays before. Several times over his career, James has celebrated in the moment but he has always stayed within bounds for what’s appropriate for the league. In fact, LeBron has rarely ever gotten a technical foul in his career and NBA officials have confirmed that he’s among the most “respectful” athletes in the game toward the referees. For LeBron, he never lets himself lose his cool on the court and it could be the reason why he’s become such a shining example of leadership for his 20+ years in the league.
Unfortunately, not everybody can avoid the technical whistle and Giannis is just one of many players who can learn a thing or two from the King. Regarding the NBA’s growing trend toward limiting player expression on the court, he’s not just going to sit by and let it happen without speaking up and now maybe Adam Silver can do something to change the way these situations are called.
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