LeBron James has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and when it comes to his son, Bronny James, the four-time NBA champion has made it clear that he won’t tolerate any disrespect. That was on full display recently when LeBron took aim at NCAA coach Doug Gottlieb, openly celebrating his team’s struggles months after Gottlieb criticized Bronny’s NBA potential.
This latest chapter in the LeBron-Gottlieb feud stems from comments the Green Bay Phoenix head coach made before the 2024 NBA Draft, where he dismissed Bronny’s talent and claimed he wouldn’t even start for a mid-major program. LeBron clearly didn’t forget, and now with Gottlieb’s Green Bay squad going through a beyond-brutal season, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar took the opportunity to fire back.
LeBron James Mocks Doug Gottlieb’s Miserable Season
On X, LeBron retweeted a post pointing out Green Bay’s disastrous 2-24 record, which also noted the team hadn’t won a game in three months. LeBron, never one to pass up an opportunity for a little pettiness, added his own commentary.
“Earned 2 Not Given! Gotta give him credit though!” LeBron wrote, followed by an unnecessary amount of laughing face and poop emojis.
Earned 2 Not Given! Gotta give him credit though! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. 💩 💩 💩 💩 💩 https://t.co/khxpnlvUY1
— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 17, 2025
The tweet instantly caught fire, with fans interpreting it as a direct shot at Gottlieb for his previous comments about Bronny.
A Feud Months in the Making
The tension between LeBron and Gottlieb dates back to Bronny’s NBA Draft process when Gottlieb, known for his outspoken opinions, dismissed Bronny’s credentials. At the time, he claimed that LeBron’s son wouldn’t even start for Green Bay, let alone be worthy of a McDonald’s All-American selection or a spot in the NBA.
LeBron, who has been his son’s biggest supporter throughout his basketball journey, didn’t publicly respond back then, though, clearly, he kept the receipts. Months later, with Gottlieb’s team struggling through a miserable season, LeBron couldn’t resist the opportunity to get in a shot of his own.
Gottlieb Fires Back on ‘The Herd With Colin Cowherd’
After LeBron’s tweet went viral, Gottlieb addressed the situation during an appearance on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.” While trying to downplay the feud, the Green Bay coach couldn’t help but throw some shade back at LeBron.
“I don’t think it speaks well for somebody who — like, don’t you have the day off?” Gottlieb said of the NBA legend. “Don’t you have better things to do? My response is: Colin [Cowherd] told me a long time ago, ‘Don’t punch down. Always punch up.’ So me talking trash to him would technically be punching up. And him, it’s punching down.”
Gottlieb continued, questioning why LeBron was so fixated on his opinion in the first place.
“I guess pettiness and insecurity aren’t limited to just people who aren’t super successful in their field,” he added. “I guess that would be my response. It just doesn’t make any sense. Why … when you have the day off, are you worried about me?”
The Green Bay coach even seemed confused about why LeBron was still holding onto his past comments.
“I don’t even know what I’m responding to other than LeBron talking ish to me,” Gottlieb said. “Why? Because I didn’t think Bronny should be a McDonald’s All-American? Or should have been an NBA draft pick? OK. That’s my job, to give a sports opinion.”
For LeBron, this was about more than just a joke at Gottlieb’s expense, it was about proving a point. Critics have questioned Bronny’s rise in the basketball world, often attributing his success to his father’s influence rather than his own ability. LeBron has consistently defended his son, and this latest jab at Gottlieb was another reminder that he doesn’t forget slights against his family.
