Conservative sports commentator Jason Whitlock, a frequent LeBron James critic, publicly disparaged the Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s parenting skills because he celebrated too much at his son’s AAU game last week.
Whitlock, 52, pounded James, 34, thoroughly during Fox’s “Speak for Yourself” show for putting on a dunking display before the AAU championship game in which his eldest son, LeBron “Bronny” James Jr., was playing.
The longtime sports reporter also ripped James for wildly celebrating a spectacular alley-oop dunk as making a “spectacle” and “circus” of his son’s games and exploiting his son’s “platform to build the LeBron social media brand.”
Check out the video that Whitlock is referring to:
Whitlock accused James of acting like Chris Rock’s character Pooky in the classic 1991 movie New Jack City in that he possesses a voracious “thirst for fame” that is akin to a “cocaine” addiction.
“It’s inappropriate,” Whitlock said. “It points to how much fame has inevitably changed LeBron over the past decade. Fame is a drug more potent and dangerous than cocaine. LeBron is a fame and social media junkie. He moved to Los Angeles looking for a better high.”
Whitlock has strong advice for James that the NBA star delivered to his own mother during the 2008 NBA playoffs. When Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce tangled with James underneath the basket, James’ mother shot up from her seat and cursed Pierce. James ordered his mother to “sit yo ass down.”
Whitlock says James needs to adhere to that same statement.
“Making herself a spectacle during his game — Gloria James needed to control and conduct herself with (dignity). That’s what parents, no matter how famous, should do,” Whitlock said. “They should not allow their thirst for fame to distract from or exaggerate their child’s performance. LeBron needs to follow advice he gave his mom: Sit yo a–down.”
Listen to the entire segment from Whitlock:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pS2xLaSQu2U
King James’ teammates and others in the NBA circled the wagons around the proud dad and fired at Whitlock, including Kyle Kuzma:
It be your own ppl.. https://t.co/tDB6LxWPJc
— kuz (@kylekuzma) July 30, 2019
While some detractors decry James’ sideline theatrics, others cherish what he is doing. Case in point:
https://twitter.com/Shaktus_/status/1156177506808020993
https://twitter.com/isojoe_/status/1156070883334774785?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1156070883334774785&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Frollingout.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php
Most of the respondents on Twitter also stood behind James, including some who may wince at his histrionics and over-the-top celebrations at his son’s games and proceeded to thrash Whitlock into oblivion:
LaVar Ball said it best:
“Only Thing Jason Whitlock qualified to comment on is SNACKS” https://t.co/tRI5O3WxIi
— moe-suke (@gauchocowboy) July 30, 2019
STILL applies to Jason Whitlock https://t.co/b2JkuOHC5h
— Ledbetter Luka (@Nictheegr8) July 30, 2019
Jason Whitlock every morning pic.twitter.com/SnEYpzxU6G
— Rev. Gibmo Dinero (@ThatMan_JC) July 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/CAI0323/status/1156157730186584064
We the black delegation trade Jason Whitlock for a number2 lead pencil with no lead nor eraser.
Just take him, please. pic.twitter.com/FTtk3V6vA8
— 1mar (@WhoIsKJean) July 30, 2019
https://twitter.com/plasencia_69/status/1156181406365753344
Jason Whitlock & Rob Parker are some sell outs. Them ppl paying y’all money so you can bash another brother. pic.twitter.com/w0mO4u9lOH
— Kakarot🐉 (@ssjgodkitt) July 30, 2019
