Hall of Famer and former Los Angeles Lakers great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar continued his criticism of Lakers star LeBron James on Sunday.
“Some of the things he’s done and said are really beneath him, as far as I can see,” Abdul-Jabbar told reporters before the Lakers’ game against the Denver Nuggets. “Some of the great things that he’s done, he’s standing on both sides of the fence almost, you know? It makes it hard for me to accept that when he’s committed himself to a different take on everything. It’s hard to figure out where he’s standing. You’ve got to check him out every time.”
Abdul-Jabbar did not offer specifics this time, but it’s not the first time he has called out James. Abdul-Jabbar was at the game to present Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony with the 2021 Social Justice Champion award, an honor recognizing Abdul-Jabbar’s “life mission to engage, empower and drive equality for historically marginalized or systemically disadvantaged individuals and groups.”
Two previous times this season, Abdul-Jabbar criticized James for his actions on the court and on social media.
In December, James posted a Spider-Man meme, with one character labeled “flu,” another “covid,” and another “cold,” with all three Spider-Men pointing at each other. James included the words, “Help me out.”
On Substack, Abdul-Jabbar wrote a lengthy column saying the tweet was a “a blow to (James’) worthy legacy. The meme’s implication is that LeBron doesn’t understand the difference among these three illnesses, even after all the information that’s been presented in the press. Well, since he asked, let me help him out by explaining the difference — and how knowing that difference might save lives, especially in the Black community.”
Abdul-Jabbar also scolded James for his “Sam Cassell dance” following a made shot against the Indiana Pacers in December. The NBA considers the move an obscene gesture and fined James for the move.
“Why do you need to do a stupid, childish dance and disrespect the other team on the court? It doesn’t make sense. GOATs don’t dance,” Abdul-Jabbar said on a video.
James, who did not play in Sunday’s game, has refrained from going back-and-forth with Abdul-Jabbar. James is chasing Abdul-Jabbar for the NBA’s all-time scoring
Abdul-Jabbar said he has a higher expectation for James “because he understands the issues and spoken to them quite forcefully and eloquently. I think he has so much going for him in terms of respect and accomplishment and he shouldn’t stoop to those moments.”
Abdul-Jabbar also commended James for his philanthropic work, including making it possible for at-risk students in Akron to attend college on a full scholarship provided by the LeBron James Family Foundation.
“His thoughtfulness and willingness to back it up with his wallet, you got to give him credit for that. So I’m not throwing stones,” he said. “I just wish he wouldn’t … you know, some of the things he’s done, he should be embarrassed about. That’s just where I’m coming from.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kareem rips LeBron James again: some his actions ‘are beneath him’
