LeBron James is still upset about not getting unanimous MVP vote in 2013 — compares himself to Beyonce at the Grammys

LeBron James is still upset about not getting unanimous MVP vote in 2013 — compares himself to Beyonce at the Grammys



LeBron James is still bothered he didn't get every single vote for the NBA's Most Valuable Player award in 2013.

James won his second NBA championship with the Miami Heat that year and was named the league's MVP. However, James collected 120 of 121 first-place votes, meaning he would not become the first unanimously voted MVP in NBA history.

During an episode of "The Shop," James expressed that he was still bothered by the rogue vote of one journalist.

"I also had the opportunity to be, I would’ve been the first unanimous MVP where I got all 120 votes. But I got 119," he said, misstating the vote count by one. "There was one vote where he voted for Carmelo [Anthony]."

"The writer is from Boston, of course. I know his name too, but I ain’t going to give him that light just yet; I'll wait for the doc on that," James said.

LeBron really said \u201cImma wait for the doc\u201d everyone finna get the smoke LMAOO
— (@)

That writer is and was publicly known as the Boston Globe's Gary Washburn. Washburn justified his reasons for not voting for James that same year and stated that his understanding of what an MVP is may differ from James'.

"I had no idea I would be the only voter to leave LeBron out of first," Washburn wrote at the time, according to CBS News. "This isn't Mrs. Wilson's class, I don't walk around asking fellow sportswriters their answers to the US History quiz. This isn't the Best Player in the Game award; it's the Most Valuable Player award, and I think what [Carmelo] Anthony accomplished this season was worthy of my vote."

James' complaints echo the ones he made in 2016 after Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry became the first unanimous MVP selection.

"I was heated," James said of 2013. "But I knew all along [I wasn't getting a unanimous vote]. I just knew it, man," he told Cleveland.com.

"It just pushed me harder," James said. "That's all. It motivated me further."

The forward admitted at the time that he initially believed it was a writer from New York that voted for Knicks star Anthony.

"I got the New York part right. It was 'Melo,' my guy ... I didn't get the writer right in Boston."

BlazeTV's Jason Whitlock, however, attributes James' comments to him "channeling his inner Michael Jordan."

"He wants us to believe he's motivated by slights. It's fake. LeBron doesn't run off anger. He runs off joy," Whitlock explained. "He's a mostly joyous person who pretends to be angry because the so-called 'culture' says black people are supposed to be mad at the world."

"The world has treated LeBron wonderfully ever since it discovered his athletic gifts around age 10. LeBron is quite happy, has been for a long time," the writer and host stated.

Lebron is really putting all of his insecurities out there. 😂

Gary Washburn explains in detail why he did NOT vote for Lebron James for the MVP that year and whether or not he would change that vote knowing it stopped him from receiving the unanimous MVP. 🏀 https://t.co/S6e3uowUIF pic.twitter.com/yOvgHGp8YZ
— NBA Strife ツ (@strifeomg) April 20, 2024

That was not all James took issue with from 2013, though. James said it still "stings" that he didn't win the Defensive Play of the Year award, which was given to Marc Gasol despite the player not being named to the NBA's All-Defensive first team that season.

"That's the only award that I don't have in my house; that kind of stings," James said, before comparing his award snub to singer Beyonce not winning at the Grammys. "I talked about this before; it don't make sense. It's almost like what [Julio Rodriguez] just said about B. How can she have the most Grammys but never won Album of the Year?"

BlazeTV contributor T.J. Moe added that James is one of the most "naturally gifted athletes" ever to compete but consistently plays the victim card.

"God gave him more natural ability than virtually anyone that has ever existed, yet LeBron has spent most of his career pretending to be some sort of victim. He’s insufferable," he added.

James also claimed on the podcast that journalists who have voted on such awards were not "watching the game" nor "studying" it.

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LeBron James’ latest disgrace & UFC’s Colby Covington’s hilarious response



Certainly LeBron James loves the fact that he’s a billionaire; what’s ironic (and hypocritical), however, is the fact that he hates the country that paved the way for him to become a billionaire.

His latest cringeworthy political stunt occurred at his son’s basketball game this past Tuesday. The Laker’s power forward was filmed arrogantly walking into the arena during the national anthem and then sitting down as the song continued to play.

Dave Rubin is disgusted by the flagrant disregard for our country but is also not surprised.

“This has been consistent with LeBron James kneeling for the national anthem, sitting for the national anthem, [and] all of the BLM nonsense,” he criticizes. “Michael Jordan, who is the true best player in basketball history ... went out of his way to be apolitical” because “he knew that everybody bought sneakers, everybody watched basketball, [and] that you watch sports and you participate in sports to get away from the day to day nonsense of the world” — a concept LeBron clearly doesn’t understand.

Dave isn’t the only one who is repulsed by the superstar’s behavior, though.

UFC legend Colby Covington also had some choice words for the athlete’s unapologetic disrespect.

“If you hate America so much and you don’t like this country that gave you a billion dollars, leave it,” he said, “or come deal with me.”

“Go to China, go to the sweatshops where you employ all these laborers and use these women and pay them pennies on the dollar to make your millions.”

“F*** you ... You’re a spineless coward, and you’re a b****,” he fired before literally dropping the microphone and stalking off the stage.

“I wanna get that guy on the show,” laughs Dave.

To see more of LeBron’s worst moments, watch the video below.


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Whitlock: Russell Westbrook is going to burn down LeBron James and the Lakers



The LeBron James-Russell Westbrook marriage has a chance to rival some of Hollywood's all-time great bad marriages. Last night, the Lakers ditched a quarter of their roster to pair Westbrook with James.

This basketball shotgun merger could be right up there with Pam Anderson and Tommy Lee's three-year marriage, which ended with Tommy doing six months jail time.

Anyone remember Kenny Chesney's four-month stint with Renee Zellweger? They had "different objectives" and quickly called it quits. I could see James and Westbrook splitting a few short months into the new season over differing objectives. LeBron wants to win, and Westbrook wants to pad his stats.

This marriage is just a bad idea. After they exited the playoffs in the first round, I understand why the Lakers feel they need to upgrade the roster around their aging superstar LeBron James and injury-prone superstar Anthony Davis. But acquiring Westbrook from the Washington Wizards is the wrong move.

Westbrook isn't a winner. He couldn't win it all with Kevin Durant and James Harden in Oklahoma City. Westbrook and his ball-hogging style cost Durant and the Thunder a 3-1 advantage in the 2016 Western Conference Finals against the Golden State Warriors. In the aftermath of that collapse, Durant defected to Golden State.

Westbrook reimagined himself as the modern-day Oscar Robertson, the new Triple Double King. Westbrook won an MVP, partnered with Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, and still couldn't win in the postseason. He jumped to Houston, reconnected with James Harden, and still couldn't win in the postseason. Westbrook moved to Washington, D.C., partnered with Bradley Beal, and still couldn't win the postseason.

Russell Westbrook is a loser. He plays with the wrong energy, particularly given his position as point guard. Westbrook plays angry and surly. Basketball is a game of joy, especially for the guy tasked with getting everyone involved. LeBron James is a joyful competitor. He plays with the same energy as Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas. The great playmakers wear a smile that tempers the fire within.

Westbrook is all temper. He plays with the fire of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, angry, single-minded scoring assassins. Unfortunately for Westbrook, he lacks Jordan's and Kobe's skill and self-awareness.

Westbrook plays dumb.

He reminds me of Hollywood's dumbest celebrity husband and marriage: Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock-and-roller who could have been bigger than Elvis. Lewis became a star in 1956 when he recorded and released the song, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." He followed that up with the mega-hit "Great Balls of Fire."

In 1957, at the age of 22, Lewis was the equal of Elvis Presley. Lewis then married his 13-year-old second cousin, Myra Gale Brown. The marriage torched his popularity and his appearance fees for live performances. Just like Russell Westbrook, Lewis had to reinvent himself. He turned to country music, where audiences were more forgiving of his Louisiana-inspired taste in women. Lewis eventually married seven times.

Let's see: Russell Westbrook has been married to Kevin Durant, James Harden, Paul George, and Bradley Beal, and now the Triple Double King is getting hitched to LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Westbrook is the Great Basketball of Fire who burns down every hoops relationship he enters. He incinerates teammates, fans, and reporters. He's just too damn angry. In 2019, he scolded a small child for touching him during a game. The same year, he beefed with a Utah Jazz fan and accused the fan of using a racial slur. For years he feuded with Daily Oklahoman columnist Berry Tramel, one of the nicest guys in sports journalism.

LeBron is marrying Liz Taylor 2.0. It's a mistake. It looks good on paper. The Lakers need another playmaker. Westbrook can play off the ball as LeBron serves as Los Angeles' primary ball handler. Sounds good.

Everything about Westbrook sounds good. He plays hard every night. He's also an emotional roller coaster every night, particularly at crunch time. He's unpredictable and a poor decision-maker.

Plus, the pressure dynamics are wrong. The pressure to win next season needs to be on Davis and James. Now the most pressure will be on Westbrook. His career legacy will be on the line. His stats fooled many of us into believing he was the second coming of Oscar Robertson. Westbrook is really a mix of Dominique Wilkins, Nate Archibald, and George McGinnis.

Westbrook is a Human Highlight Film who plays like a Tiny Big Mac. He is not one of the NBA's top 50 players of all time. He's an interesting gimmick.

He'll be desperate to disprove that narrative all next season. It's going to make it impossible for him to control his emotions. He's backed into a corner. There will be the initial honeymoon period, and then he'll revert to his old habits at a critical moment and cost the Lakers a chance to win it all.

The Lakers will be a great ball of fire.

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Soccer star says LeBron should stay out of politics, James responds: 'I am kind of the wrong guy to go at'



LeBron James was called out by a soccer star, who said the NBA legend should stay out of politics. James has responded to Ibrahimovic's recommendation by saying, "I am kind of the wrong guy to go at."

Ibrahimovic, a 39-year-old Swede who plays for Italy's A.C. Milan, questioned the basketball player's political and social activism in an interview with Discover+ this week.

"[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he's doing, but I don't like when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time," Ibrahimovic said. "Do what you're good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I'm the best at playing football. I don't do politics. If I would be a political politician, I would do politics."

"That is the big first mistake people do when they become famous and they become in a certain status," he added. "Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn't look good."

Following the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, LeBron was asked to give a comment regarding Ibrahimovic's statement about him.

"He was the same guy who said when he was back in Sweden ... because his last name wasn't a certain last name, that he felt there was some racism going on when he was out on the pitch," James said.

James is referencing a 2018 quote from Ibrahimovic, in which he said he was the victim of "undercover racism" in his native Sweden because his Bosnian heritage gave him a surname that doesn't sound traditionally Swedish.

"I am not Andersson or Svensson," Ibrahimovic told Canal+. "If I would be that, trust me, they would defend me even if I would rob a bank. They would defend me, I tell you."

James stated, "I would never shut up about things that are wrong. I preach about my people, and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic voter suppression. Things that go on in our community."

"I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that may be going on, not only in my community, but around this country and around the world," the Lakers star continued. "So, there's no way I would ever just stick to sports, because I understand how this platform and how powerful my voice is."

"I speak from a very educated mind, so I'm kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework," LeBron.

LeBron responded after Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticized him for his activism.“I’m kind of the wrong guy to actually… https://t.co/9ZePUEep5T
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter)1614407276.0

Despite James saying he "would never shut up about things that are wrong around the world," LeBron was previously widely criticized for supporting the totalitarian Chinese Communist Party in the firing of former Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey and not speaking up for pro-Democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong. Many people, including activists, slammed LeBron as being hypocritical with his social activism while turning a blind eye to protests in Hong Kong because the NBA makes billions from China.

This isn't the first time LeBron was advised to focus less on politics. In 2018, there was the infamous confrontation between James and Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who instructed the NBA great to "shut up and dribble" instead of providing his political opinions.

James has been an outspoken critic of former President Donald Trump while supporting the presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, plus getting involved with campaigns for black Americans to vote. LeBron has also been a staunch proponent of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as speaking out against police brutality and racial injustice against black Americans.

NBA ratings plummeted last year, including during the NBA Finals that included LeBron's Lakers, which were the least-watched Finals on record. Many believe the NBA's overwhelming embrace of social justice was a factor in 2020's dwindling viewership, and a poll found that 38% of fans said the sport had become "too political."

Ben and Jerry and Politics: A Flavor for Disaster | Ep 211

Ben and Jerry and Politics: A Flavor for Disaster | Ep 211

Thousands of fans ignore COVID rules to converge at LA Staples Center following Lakers' championship win; many target cops during chaos



A massive horde of NBA fans took to the streets of Los Angeles after the Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA title. The Lakers won 106-93 over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the finals on Sunday night.

What are the details?

KABC-TV reported that thousands of people showed up on Figueroa Street outside Los Angeles' Staples Center, and some of them targeted police officers and their cruisers as officers were forced to declare the scene an unlawful assembly.

Days ahead of the Lakers' win, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti directed citizens to stay off of the streets due to COVID-19 restrictions.

On Friday, Garcetti said that NBA fans should not congregate on the streets during or after the game — which took place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Florida — either to celebrate a win or lament a loss.

"I encourage you to yell at the top of your lungs inside your homes, maybe even open up the window or step outside your door as we've done for our first responders and essential medical workers to thank them," Garcetti said. "Let's thank the Lakers when they win, but let's do it safe."

Garcetti also warned that disregarding his advice could sabotage "all the progress we have made in our fight against COVID-19."

"LAPD went into tactical alert and declared the gathering an unlawful assembly," KABC reported. "Cars were seen performing 'donuts' and 'burnouts,' some cars were swarmed by fans in the streets."

The report continued, "Multiple fireworks were set off and there were isolated reports of small groups throwing rocks and bottles at police."

The station noted that local police and California Highway Patrol officers shut down ramps leading to the downtown area during the melee.

Bleacher Report on Monday noted that many of the fans "began throwing beer bottles and other 'projectiles' at uniformed police officers that swarmed the area."

"The few isolated incidents soon grew to a large mob of sports fans which soon made their way down the streets of Los Angeles turning over police cars and breaking into local businesses," the outlet reported. "Some innocent bystanders became injured in the incident as the hoard [sic] came rushing down the streets."

The outlet added that police arrived on the scene en masse "with riot gear and shots of tear gas which were thrown into the mass of hysterical fans."

The Daily Mail also reported that "witnesses told the Los Angeles Times that officers also fired 'beanbag rounds' at one point, which sent some people running."

Lakers fans trashing police cars https://t.co/Koi9Rk5jvr
— NBA Central (@NBA Central)1602473794.0

(H/T: The Daily Wire)

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