LeBron James will go down as one of the very best players in NBA history — a basketball legend whose success may never be replicated. However, according to one NBA personality, he apparently did not show much respect for a pair of legends during All-Star Weekend.
LeBron James ‘Gave Side Eye’ to Larry Bird and Julius Erving During 2024 All-Star Weekend
On “The Dreamerspro Show,” Smith revealed that James did not take too kindly to Bird or Erving when they visited the All-Star Game locker room in 2024.
“We all brought up the lackadaisical effort that they put forth for the All-Star Game on All-Star Weekend,” Smith said. “You think they don’t look at LeBron James?
“Larry Bird and Dr. J and them come in and talk to the (All-Star) team last year, and they think that they touched the pulse of the players and all of this stuff. And then they say, you know what? LeBron just gave a side eye to everybody else.
“The next thing you know, they went out there and allowed 400 points damn near to be scored. Put forth no effort whatsoever. It may not have been his fault, but they didn’t view it that way.”
Stephen A Smith Says that Lebron Disrespected Larry Bird to his face at NBA All Star Weekend 👀
(Via The Dreamerspro Show on Youtube) pic.twitter.com/07Jp2Cove4
— Thetruth (@Thetruth8240) February 22, 2025
It sounds as though Bird and Erving were trying to inspire the All-Stars to play with a little more effort, but James ultimately disregarded it and wasn’t very receptive of their message. James may not be the best player in the league like he was back in his heyday, but he still is the NBA’s most popular player, and his influence may have impacted how the other All-Stars approached the game.
It may not have had much to do with Bird or Erving as much as it had to do with how little James cares about the All-Star festivities. Players don’t play with much passion in the All-Star Game because they don’t want to risk getting hurt. James falls under this same umbrella. More than that, he’s been part of these festivities dating back to 2005.
Due to his status, odds are, the other players will want to follow his lead and decide that they don’t care either. The All-Star Game might be untenable at this point because there is no incentive for players to play at their best when they know what could happen if they do.
This year, the NBA tried to change this by rolling out a new tournament format, and it backfired. The backlash from All-Star weekend this year could make the league go back to the drawing board. No matter what though, if the league’s most influential player doesn’t care, then it’s likely that neither will the stars who play with him will, either.
This year, James opted to sit out of the All-Star Game due to ankle soreness, drawing criticism from former players, fans, and media alike since he pulled out hours before tip-off rather than doing it earlier and allowing another deserving player to take his spot.
How Can the NBA Fix the All-Star Game?
It remains to be seen what the NBA will do next to try to fix the All-Star Game. Will they stick with this tournament format for another year and hope it improves? Or will try to follow in the NFL’s footsteps and try a Team USA vs. Team World game?
Milwaukee Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo believes this is the best option.
“I would love that. Oh, I would love that. I think that would be the most interesting and most exciting format,” Antetokounmpo said of the USA vs. World idea. “I would love that. For sure, I’d take pride in that. I always compete, but I think that will give me a little bit more extra juice to compete, like having Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], [Nikola] Jokic, Luka [Dončić], Wemby (Victor Wembanyama), [Karl-Anthony] Towns, [Alperen] Şengün.
“I know those players — obviously, I’m missing some guys that I cannot think from the top of my head, going against the best U.S. players. I think it would be fun. I think that would be the best format. We have the NBA Entertainment guy here in the back. You guys talk to that guy. He can make it happen. … U.S. versus the World, that would be an exciting format.
“I feel like that would make people play hard. Hopefully, we can get it back to where it was. I remember the first couple of years that I was an All-Star, everybody was playing hard. I feel like the last game that was played hard was 2020, and after that it’s not been as hard.”
Antetokounmpo also said he would love to see the league add a one-on-one tournament to All-Star weekend.
“If I had the chance to play one-on-one with anybody, I would love to do it. Anything that can make the weekend more exciting, more fun for the viewers, for the fans and for the players, I would love to participate,” he said. “I’ve done every competition, I think. I’ve done the skills challenge. I’ve done the dunk contest. I haven’t done the 3-point shooting. But if it’s a one-on-one competition, I would love to participate.
“I think sometimes you forget, to be good, to be a good one-on-one player, you’ve got to be able to play both ways. You’ve got to get a stop to get the ball. You don’t get a stop, you’re not getting the ball. It’s kind of hard, say, if Kyrie Irving is going against Wemby. He’s got to get a stop. But it would be fun. It would be fun. I would love to participate if next year there’s a one-on-one tournament. I would love to participate.”
At this point, fans (and players) are sick of the NBA All-Star Game, and it’s unclear if there’s anything the league can do to fix the event.
