LeBron James’ “Big Balls” dance against the Indiana Pacers after he hit a clutch three-pointer has drawn reactions from pundits and former NBA players. The four-time NBA champ got hot in overtime and singlehandedly closed out the game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
The NBA fined LeBron $15,000 for the celebration, but that was not all the heat The King got. The all-time NBA scoring leader Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was disappointed with LeBron’s choice of celebration. He called it “childish,” and said winning should be enough instead of rubbing it in the opponent’s face (1:35).
Following his comments, sports analyst Skip Bayless expressed his shock, then proceeded to interpret Kareem’s statement on the Skip and Shannon: UNDISPUTED show.
https://twitter.com/undisputed/status/1467915490978942981
“I’m completely and utterly shocked by this, and I think you are missing the bigger point of this. Kareem is sending a message that LeBron isn’t one of ‘us.’ He’s disqualifying him from the GOAT, but he is also disqualifying him from being a Laker for life, like a legend. Because this is about Kareem, and Magic, and James Worthy, and Byron Scott, and Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal. Those are Lakers for life.”
“Usually Laker legends protect their own. They’re all for one and one for all. To break out of that mode and take this kind of a public shot at LeBron was completely shocking to me.”
Skip is known to always take shots at LeBron, which is why this comes as no surprise. Even with all the criticisms, LBJ has continued to perform at an elite level.
There have been several interruptions in LeBron’s 2021-22 campaign. The Lakers captain has not played four games in a row since the start of the season due to an abdominal injury, a suspension following an altercation with Detroit Pistons Isaiah Stewart, and the league’s health and safety protocol. Regardless, he is leading the Lakers in points (25.6). Added to that are 5.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.8 steals.
