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LeBron James called out NBA coaching legend Phil Jackson for using urban slang to describe his crew of hard legs.
It all started when Jackson commented on James’ Diva behavior in an interview with ESPN.
Jackson recalled a time when James asked his former team, the Miami Heat, to stay overnight in Cleveland during a road trip.
Jackson, 71, noted that James expected preferential treatment when he played for the Miami Heat.
He said James, 31, asked Heat coach Erik Spoelstra if the team could stay overnight in Cleveland so he could hang out with his mother and his homies.
Jackson said James’ inconsiderate request put Spoelstra in a bind.
“You can’t hold up the whole team because you and your mom and your posse want to spend an extra night in Cleveland,” Jackson said in the ESPN interview.
James, who isn’t used to being publicly rebuked, responded to Jackson’s criticism after team practice on Tuesday.
“I had nothing but respect for him as a coach …” James told a reporter.
Q: “Had respect?”
LeBron: “Yeah”
Q: “Until now?”
LeBron: “Yeah”
Then James accused Jackson of stereotyping his crew because they are black.