LeBron’s passive-aggressive social media post has the NBA world chattering.
Confrontational? No, no. Try indirect resistance. At least that’s a better way to describe how LeBron James seeks solace—which he often does via social media—from his numerous detractors.
The 39-year-old has countless noble traits, among them being the inimitable use of his platform to help inspire change and encourage positivity. Another one is his tendency to snipe at critics in an Instagram story here or an expletive-littered X post there.
James being James
LeBron has had a fluid summer. He watched his son get drafted and joined Team USA, where he co-inhabited a grand stage with his new confidant Stephen Curry—a guy he used to exchange barbs with—before winning a gold medal, not to mention the fab views of Paris.
But it wouldn’t be a typical offseason for the Los Angeles Lakers superstar without one of his fashionable social media activities, like a recent Instagram story where James took a spike at those traducing him as a bloke with no “s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁.”
“Pure brute strength and running people over my whole career. No s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 detected!” he wrote over a video of his career highlights.
Although the four-time MVP vehemently disagrees, many naysayers have used his lack of a “bag” as a hallmark criticism, especially when trying to demean his ability compared to Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan.
Yes, it’s technically true that LeBron has scored a much larger portion of his points at the rim, often as a result of charging downhill, combining his whizzing speed and striking leaping ability. James never twirls in the air like Jordan. He rarely performs a multiplex of jab steps and up-and-under moves to generate clean looks at the basket like Bryant. But saying the Lakers superstar has no “s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁” is more delusional than reality.
Nothing new here
The four-time champion never had qualms about reassuring himself on social media. If he doesn’t like what’s being said about him, LeBron almost always reply, but indirectly.
James isn’t always soppy when he “claps back.” Sometimes, he’ll just type an emoji or a hashtag and hit the share button, like in 2021, when he reposted on his Instagram story a stat about how he went three seasons without taking 30+ shots in a game.
When LeBron finally did go over that threshold, he scored 57 points against the Washington Wizards in a November 2017 game. While No. 23 was patting himself on the back, it was also a pointed dig at critics who argue he isn’t one of the greatest “pure” scorers in NBA history.
Much like he does on the hardwood, LeBron sees and hears everything, and he’ll certainly want to respond to it. Sometimes, it’s in front of reporters. Sometimes it’s with body language. Other times, especially during summer, it’s on social media.
