LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled through the Raptors in their second round series, earning a second straight sweep and at least a week off prior to the Eastern Conference Finals, where they’ll be waiting for either the Celtics or Wizards.
The series was not especially close, with the first three games being decided by at least 11 points and Game 4 being a seven-point Cavs win. That meant the competitive juices might not have been flowing quite as much through the Cavs. That’s not to say they weren’t trying hard to win – it’s clear they were – but James was able to take some time in Game 3 to help the Raptors avoid an illegal substitution call by corralling young Norman Powell by his jersey to keep him from going to the bench when he wasn’t supposed to.
https://twitter.com/WeNotSocks/status/860900323275264002
It’s a pretty funny moment and was cause for plenty of jokes on Twitter, but Powell wasn’t too pleased with James’ jersey pull. You can see in the clip that Powell says something to James, and it wasn’t to exchange pleasantries.
Prior to Game 4, ESPN’s Dave McMenamin caught up with Powell and asked him what happened in that moment, and Powell took the chance to let everyone know that he didn’t appreciate what James did and felt LeBron was trying to show him up a bit.
“They were subbing in P.J. (Tucker), he thought I was coming out, he was pulling my jersey,” Powell said. “I hit his hand away and told him, ‘You don’t do that.’ I told him not to pull my jersey. We got into it a little bit. I told him not to pull my jersey. If he’s trying to get my attention, call my name, call my number, but don’t do that. Don’t pull my jersey like that.”
Powell said he doesn’t care who it is, he doesn’t want anyone from another team yanking on his jersey, even if James was just trying to offer a little veteran help or advice.
“I just don’t like that,” Powell told ESPN. “I don’t care if it’s LeBron or if it’s anybody. It could be Kawhi (Leonard), it could be anybody. Just don’t pull my jersey. I feel like that’s a little disrespectful, you know what I’m saying? Like you’re trying to son me and I don’t go for that. You can call my name, you can try to get my attention, whatever it is, just don’t pull my jersey like that.”
Powell’s frustration is understandable as it was a moment that made him look a bit foolish. Luckily, there probably won’t be any more opportunities for him to get embarrassed by James, as the Raptors offseason has begun.
