Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is not shy with his LeBron James opinions.
On Sunday, he laid into the fellow Los Angeles Lakers great during an appearance to celebrate James' teammate Carmelo Anthony. Abdul-Jabbar showed up to Crypto.com Arena ahead of Sunday's Lakers game against the Denver Nuggets to present Anthony with the NBA's Social Justice Champion Award. Anthony is the inaugural winner of the award that comes with a trophy named after Abdul-Jabbar.
'Really beneath him'
Abdul-Jabbar used the appearance to continue to voice his displeasure over James' social stances, among other complaints.
"Some of the things he's done and said are really beneath him, as far as I can see," Abdul-Jabbar said, per ESPN. "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."
Later on Sunday, Abdul-Jabbar said he regretted his comments about James.
Today a reporter asked me a question about Lebron James and I regret my off-handed response which has been blown out of proportion. For years I’ve expressed my deep admiration and respect for LeBron as a community leader and athlete. That hasn’t changed and never will. -@kaj33https://t.co/QEWed5YovX
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (@kaj33) April 4, 2022
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar with a follow-up statement on his LeBron James criticisms pic.twitter.com/lO34a2rkWL
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) April 4, 2022
Over the years, I’ve been asked to comment on and write about LeBron James. A couple years ago, I wrote an article for Sports Illustrated about LeBron as a Sportsperson of the Year in which I said: "[T]his generation couldn’t do any better in the hero department than LeBron James. Part of being a hero is to have both the modesty to feel unworthy of such a heavy word and the strength to accept the responsibility that comes with others looking to you to be that hero. What is a hero but someone who stands up for those who can’t? Who embodies our cherished ideals of sportsmanship: fair play, hard work and compassion? That pretty much describes the LeBron James I’ve watched and come to know since he was the No. 1 pick in the 2003 NBA draft and was named Rookie of the Year.” In the two years since I wrote that, my respect and admiration has only grown for LeBron as I watched him champion worthwhile causes while maintaining his status as an elite athlete. As he closes is on my all-time scoring record, I have been a cheerleader urging him on, happy to pass the mantle to someone so worthy as an athlete and a person.
LeBron is still the daunting hero I described two years ago. He’s still a major force in improving lives in the Black Community. He’s still one of the greatest basketball players in history. He’s still a man who has earned the overwhelming admiration of millions. And every day he goes out and proves why he deserves that admiration.
On occasion I have chided LeBron when I thought he was dropping the ball when it came to supporting the community. But I did so in the spirit of a loving older brother offering guidance, whether wanted or not. So, when I said that he has done some things he should be embarrassed about, that wasn’t a slam or a barb or even a finger wag, it was me recapping some of what I’d said in the past. The Sports Illustrated article was an homage to LeBron for winning the Muhammad Ali Legacy Award for his role in social activism. So, when I think he may be veering from the path that made him win that award, I’ll mention it. I’m a journalist. That’s what I do. But I believe LeBron is strong enough and gracious enough to understand that I have only love for him in my heart.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Abdul-Jabbar has repeatedly taken James to task, including December criticism that James "encouraged vaccine hesitancy." James used the pointing Spiderman meme on Instagram with a caption reading "help me out" in an apparent effort to downplay the impact of COVID-19 by comparing it to the cold and flu. Abdul-Jabbar responded with an 1,100-world Substack essay titled: "Dear LeBron: Here’s the COVID-19 Help You Requested in Your Spider-Man Meme." In it, he criticized James' post as "a blow to his worthy legacy."
Two months prior, Abdul-Jabbar wrote another essay criticizing James for "honoring the unvaccinated" and "opinions that contribute to their deaths." James said he was initially "very skeptical" of COVID-19 vaccines before announcing in September that he and the Lakers were fully vaccinated. Abdul-Jabbar has been a vocal advocate of COVID-19 vaccines while working to tamp down skepticism in Black communities.
'He should be embarrassed'
Abdul-Jabbar praised James on Sunday for some of his social efforts, including his "I Promise" school for at-risk students in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. Other things Abdul-Jabbar believes James "should be embarrassed about?"
“I admire the things that he's done that have gotten all our attention," Abdul-Jabbar said, per the Los Angeles Times. "Sending a whole school to college? Wow. That's amazing. 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. 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.”
Abdul-Jabbar also recalled a 2021 celebration from James against the Indiana Pacers that drew a $15,000 fine from the NBA, which deemed his action as an "obscene gesture."
The NBA has fined LeBron James $15,000 for making an "obscene gesture" during the Lakers' win over Indiana pic.twitter.com/7Wqts1RklV
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) November 27, 2021
“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 said.
Kareem's thoughts on LeBron breaking his scoring record
James recently surpassed Karl Malone for second place all-time on the NBA's scoring list and is within striking distance of passing Abdul-Jabbar as the league's all-time scoring leader. As of Sunday, James' career scoring tally of 37,062 points trails Abdul-Jabbar's total of 38,387 by 1,325 points. His career scoring average of 27.1 points per game puts him on pace to pass Abdul-Jabbar in 49 games. Abdul-Jabbar said he would be happy to see James break his record — as long as he's "careful" about other issues.
“I'm all for him doing it," Abdul-Jabbar said. "There's no envy there. I just — with the issues I was talking about, things that really affect the Black community, he should be careful. That's all I'm asking.”
James previously downplayed Abdul-Jabbar's criticism, telling reporters in December, "I don't have a response to Kareem" before attempting to explain his social media post as "trying to figure this pandemic out."
James missed Sunday's 129-118 loss to the Nuggets with an ankle injury. He didn't immediately respond to Abdul-Jabbar's latest round of criticism.
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