LeBron James’ behavior at his 14-year-old son’s basketball game has sparked controversy amongst fans online.
Video footage from LeBron James Jr.’s AAU basketball tournament shows basketball legend, LeBron, 34, excitedly running onto the court to congratulate his son and his teammate after the latter executed a nearly-perfect alley-oop. The NBA star was so excited that one of his shoes fell off on the court.
LeBron celebrated too hard and lost his damn shoe ???????????? @KingJames
@TipHoops
pic.twitter.com/F6yJ15wGKX— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) July 28, 2019
What appears as light-hearted fun between a father and son elicited different responses from a few folks on Twitter who claimed the Cleveland native was exhibiting “childlike behavior.”
I usually defend Lebron. And I gotta be honest if my son is ever throwing down alley oops I will probably lose my fucking mind. But this is absolutely ridiculous. This is like, bizarre childlike behavior. Whatta weirdo pic.twitter.com/9AcNqLfxao
— KFC (@KFCBarstool) July 29, 2019
Should of been ejected from building
— Dean Lewis (@DeanLew1970) July 28, 2019
Bronny Sr a ???? and if that was anyone else’s dad he’d be thrown out
— Manny77 (@MannyNeva77) July 28, 2019
Draw more attention to yourself my god
— Vertigo214 (@ViceChair214) July 28, 2019
One critic was Jason Whitlock of Fox Sports who advised LeBron to "sit [his] ass down."
Today’s Before We Go: LeBron should take the advice he gave his mother… sit yo ass down. @WhitlockJason
pic.twitter.com/77DDCrD9ql— Speak For Yourself (@SFY) July 29, 2019
With the exception of Whitlock, one user noticed a pattern.
It’s amazing that most of the ppl who feel this way are palm colored
No coincidence there
FYI: The same attitude Lebron has here in celebration of his son dominating, is the same attitude that makes you love him in his own arena
Competitiveness and love for the game pic.twitter.com/3U93jNMFkw
— The Marathon Continues (@justfeats) July 29, 2019
Listen, we didn't say it.
Others still struggled to see the issue.
This is Crazy to see … you guys take what this man does off the court for granted ….. sounds like hate … My Dad has never been to ONE of my basketball Games … In fact I haven’t even seen my father in 4 Years lol ….. Don’t let this go over you’re head !!! https://t.co/LFknGFQ3rS
— Dior???? (@3Diorjohnson) July 29, 2019
The best thing about this video is lebron son didn’t catch the oop. He’s celebrating somebody else’s kid for doing something dope in an aau game. ????
— Davey Dave (@SwaveyDave_) July 30, 2019
Lebron has set the standard this era for all fathers and even more so for black fathers. His son sees and feels the love and support from his dad. It’s never been seen on this level. They want to write the “his father wasn’t there” story instead of this one. THIS is goals! https://t.co/1jUNJk0TGa
— Damon Harrison Sr. (@snacks) July 30, 2019
LeBron was also filmed doing warm-up shots with his son's team before the tournament.
"Bronny" Jr. shows promise for excellence in the sport. In 2018, he received a standing ovation from his father after he achieved his first dunk in a jersey bearing his dad's number of 23 at a middle school basketball game. That day, Bronny led the team, scoring 27 points as previously reported by Blavity.
Seems like Black fathers are damned if they do and damned if they don’t.
