Not even two hours before the All-Star game was set to tip off, LeBron James dropped the bombshell that he wasn’t going to participate due to ongoing ankle issues.
His former teammate Kendrick Perkins was not happy with the way the Lakers star went about things.
“Do I have a problem with LeBron James missing the All-Star game at the age of 40 because of injury? Absolutely not,” Perkins said. “But it’s how he did it. And he knew that he wasn’t going to play when he probably was selected to play in the All-Star game. How about giving people a heads up? Not showing up to the actual All-Star weekend an hour before the game starts.”
Perkins continued, “And now, all of a sudden, you’re taking away from another guy that probably earned to be in the All-Star game…Put your damn uniform on. That’s another thing; it came off as him being selfish. It looked selfish on his part…He should have handled it in a better way.”
Shannon Sharpe also took issue with LeBron on ESPN’s First Take.
“I’m disappointed in LeBron,” Sharpe said. “I believe that LeBron knew on Wednesday night after the game that he wasn’t gonna play. ”
“If the reports are true, LeBron didn’t even arrive until Saturday,” he added. “I just don’t get it. I believe that Norman Powell was deserving (of a place). If you’re not going to play, give someone else the opportunity to fill that spot. Left Shaq with just seven guys instead of the customary eight. I did not agree with this decision guys, I thought LeBron in this situation was selfish. He knew he wasn’t gonna play.”
Stephen A. Smith was in support of Sharpe’s comments, since he responded, “I’m just so proud of my boy Shannon Sharpe. I know he got a lot in him, I didn’t know he had that in him. Selfish? LeBron? Oh my Lord. Did you bring it this morning. You’re damn right he’s selfish, you’re damn right he was. There’s no way around this, you’re gonna sit up there and announce before the game when (commissioner) Adam Silver doesn’t have time to announce a replacement. And giving props to Draymond, Jalen Rose, Vince Carter. All three of them pointed that out. They said the same exact thing the minute it was discovered.”
