No matter who wins Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it’s regrettable that much of the media attention leading up to the game has to do with Draymond Green and LeBron James’ interaction in Game 4, which saw Draymond call LeBron “bitch” and whack him in the genitals after the Cavs star stepped over the Warrior. Green got suspended, altering the complexion of the game on the court, but even more annoying to those who just want to watch a game of basketball has been the war of words after the dust-up.
First Klay Thompson lobbed a shot at LeBron for his feelings, and LeBron went for the high road. Then Ayesha Curry, of all people, got involved. Now, someone asked Klay’s father, former Laker Mychal Thompson, about the interaction, and you may be shocked to find that Mychal A) took his son’s side and B) has strong opinions on the good old days:
Klay not the only Thompson going in on LeBron. Mychal on radio on complaining: "Are we now this PC that we can't trash talk on the court?"
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
Mychal Thompson: "Are you freaking kidding me? Who complains to the media about being called a name?"
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
Mychal Thompson: "We all respect LeBron's ability..but man sometimes he acts too entitled like he's supposed to get everything he wants."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
Mychal "I cannot believe..what we're facing tonight bc a player complained ab being called a certain word that rhymes w witch on the court."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
Mychal Thompson: "LeBron (James) couldn't have survived in the 80s with the physicality and the words guys said to each other back then."
— Diamond Leung (@diamond83) June 13, 2016
What kind of words qualify as trash talk and what crosses the line are completely subjective topics, and debating with the elder Thompson about PC culture is as useful as debating any 61-year-old about PC culture. What we will debate him on is the overused and silly notion that LeBron wouldn’t “survive” in the ’80s. It’s like saying Muhammad Ali wouldn’t have survived against 5’4 British dudes in the 1880s because they didn’t use boxing gloves — he’s still Muhammad Friggin’ Ali, and LeBron James is still one of the most physically dominant players the NBA has ever seen.
Any dad is going to have an irrational amount of support for his son, and no one is going to begrudge him for that. But because Klay’s dad was a pro himself who goes on the radio, it’s easy to get tricked into giving his words added weight. Don’t fall into that trap, and try to enjoy the game without arguing pointlessly about LeBron’s viability in previous eras.
