Michael Wilbon rips into LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Jul 11, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; ESPN reporter Michael Wilbon prior to the Phoenix Suns against the Milwaukee Bucks in game three of the 2021 NBA Finals at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
ESPN personality Michael Wilbon ripped into LeBron James and Anthony Davis on Friday over the way they handled the end of the Los Angeles Lakers’ season.
The Lakers were eliminated from the postseason on Monday with a Game 5 loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round. Four days later, the Lakers announced the firing of head coach Darvin Ham — an outcome that had been expected.
The team’s firing of Ham — and the way so much of the blame was pinned on the coach — didn’t sit well with Wilbon.
During Friday’s episode of “Pardon the Interruption,” Wilbon criticized James and Davis for pointing the finger at Ham.
“They blame him. I hate to say this, if you want to be the GOAT, then take accountability like one! Do that!” Wilbon insisted, talking about how James wants to be included in the “Greatest of All Time” conversation. “You don’t blame this cryptically or backhandedly on Darvin Ham. I don’t want to hear from anyone in a Laker uniform that the primary problem was Darvin Ham.
“It’s intellectually lazy and unaccountable. Those two guys are too great. They’re Hall of Famers. You’ve got to be better than that,” Wibon said of Davis and James.
You can see the full clip of Wilbon talking.
Wilbon throwing it down! You wanna be the GOAT? Take responsibility.
(Narrator: LeBron wasn't the GOAT. He just though he was) pic.twitter.com/qeWERqHGjB
— shawnjohnpdx🧨 (@shawnjohnpdx) May 4, 2024
Was Ham made to be the scapegoat for the Lakers? Wilbon feels that James and Davis should have shouldered more blame. Charles Barkley feels that the Lakers’ front office needs more blame.
Ham, who was fired after just two seasons as the team’s head coach, is receiving some media support following his ouster.
