LeBron James knows perception in the NBA is everything, even if you actually know better. After all, fans are usually rooting for teams over players, especially when players can come and go in an era of free agency.
That doesn’t make it right, though, and when asked to react to Los Angeles unceremoniously shipping Blake Griffin to Detroit on Monday, James used it as an opportunity to comment on the hypocrisy of fans critical of player mobility yet supportive of teams shipping those players off without any warning.
James was asked by the media in Cleveland on Tuesday about the deal. And though he was napping when it all went down, he certainly recognized what a shock it was to send a player locked up long-term away from the only city he’s ever played in.
“He spent his last nine years there. He signed a multi-year deal there,” James said. “It’s unfortunate, but it’s the business. It’s both sides; it works [for] both sides, though.”
LeBron was asked about the gap between how fans react to player trades and their own free agent decisions, something he has a lot of experience with, and he once again pointed out the difference in perception of the moves.
“When a player gets traded, they were doing what’s best for the franchise,” James said. “But when a player leaves, he’s not loyal, he’s a snake. He’s not committed. That’s the narrative of how it goes, so I definitely know that first hand.”
Griffin didn’t want to leave LA, and the point he preached to others was the desire to be a Clipper for life. Now that’s gone, and it’s clear James has taken notice of how the Clippers handled themselves here.
That’s gotta be tough to hear for those Clips fans holding out hope James will come to the franchise, something the Clippers front office itself had to have in mind when they hit the eject button on Griffin.
Things can change, and business is business, but right now it sure doesn’t sound like LeBron trusts the Clippers after what happened with Griffin.
