LeBron James called out what he sees as a double standard in a lengthy Instagram post Wednesday night.
Dallas Mavericks forward Harrison Barnes was traded in the middle of the Mavericks’ Wednesday night win over the Charlotte Hornets. Barnes’ stunned reaction as he sat on the bench near the end of the game had LeBron wondering if loyalty in sports is a one-way street. (RELATED: LeBron James Hangs On The Rim, Doesn’t Get Called For A Tech)
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“Traded this man while he was literally playing in the game and had ZERO idea,” James said. “I’m not knocking who traded him because it’s a business and you have to do what you feel what’s best but I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE and not when a player wants to be traded or leaves a Franchise that he’s a selfish/ungrateful player but when they trade you, release, waive, cut etc etc it’s best for them! I’m ok with both honestly, truly am.”
James also asked people to call a spade a spade.
LeBron has a point. Fans and owners demand loyalty from players, but don’t retain that loyalty when the player’s on-court value diminishes like Barnes’ did. By all accounts, Barnes was a class act and has been a good player for years, but his contract had become an inconvenience so the Mavericks jettisoned him.
I’m not the only one who thought the King had a point. One of LeBron’s likely future teammates agreed as well.
Anthony Davis liked LeBron’s post commenting on Harrison Barnes being traded mid-game ???? pic.twitter.com/55DPx99a14
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 7, 2019
Players should always do what’s in their best interests, whatever that may be. However, it would be nice to return to an era where the top players competed against each other instead of piggybacking off one another’s accomplishments.