LeBron James’ recent remarks about Kyrie Irving have ignited a wave of reactions as Irving prepares to compete in the NBA Finals with the Dallas Mavericks. The timing and nature of James’ praise have stirred considerable debate within the basketball community.

In a candid conversation on the “Mind The Game” podcast with JJ Redick, James lauded Irving, calling him the “most gifted player the NBA has ever seen.” James expressed his mixed emotions about their past partnership, saying, “I’m so f-ing happy and proud to watch him continue his growth and at the same time, I’m so f-ing mad that I’m not his running mate anymore.”

While such accolades might usually be celebrated, they have instead been met with backlash. Critics argue that James is attempting to draw attention to himself, especially with his own team, the Los Angeles Lakers, missing from the playoffs this year.

Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player and now an analyst, was particularly vocal in his disapproval. During a pre-game analysis for the NBA Finals, Perkins criticized James for trying to overshadow the event.

“Here we go again, [LeBron James] weaseling his way into somebody else’s moment,” Perkins exclaimed. “This is not about you! Your team is at home.”

LeBron remains relevant even when he’s not in the Finals

The controversy around James’ comments highlights the complex dynamics of his influence in the NBA. Whether his intentions were to share genuine praise or to remain in the spotlight, the resulting discourse shows the powerful impact of his words.

As the NBA Finals unfold, the conversation around James’ remarks adds an extra layer of intrigue to the championship narrative. If LeBron wanted to involve himself in the conversation, it worked.