Joakim Noah calls out, outclasses LeBron James (video)
LeBron James‘ put on some moves last night that are making the rounds this morning.
However, they weren’t the high-flying variety that were accustomed to seeing, but were unnecessary shimmies, on-the-bench dancing and after game comments that prove that the King isn’t ready to be the face of the NBA.
(Discuss LeBron’s sportsmanship in our forum)
During last night’s 101-87 romp over the Chicago Bulls last night, LeBron James celebrated early and often with no concern or respect for his opponents.
And Bull’s forward/center Joakim Noah took the King’s boasting and posturing personally.
From the AP: After Jamario Moon’s alley-oop dunk put the Cavs ahead 84-65 in the fourth, James, who was on the bench resting at the time, bounced out of his chair and hopped onto the floor. He continued to rock out during the timeout, mugging for the crowd and dancing along with teammate Danny Green to House of Pain’s anthemic rap hit “Jump Around.”
Joakim Noah lets James have it
Later in the fourth, when James came back into the game, be did a little Mark Jackson shoulder-shimmy after being fouled. When he went to shoot the free throws, the Noah finally had enough of James’ unnecessary boasting and yelled something at James from the bench.
“This is so ****ing old.” said Noah. “You’re a bitch.”
James took exception to Noah’s comments and walked in the direction of the Bulls’ bench and was assessed a technical foul.
After the game, Noah explained his actions articulately:
“When you’re losing the way you’re losing and guys are rubbing it in your face, dancing and all that,” Noah said. “I have a lot of respect for LeBron. It’s just a frustrating situation.”
To which LeBron was less understanding in his response, even taking a swipe at Noah’s contributions.
“It’s nothing against the Bulls and it’s nothing against Joakim or none of those guys. It’s nothing about showboating on a team. I’ve seen it happen all last year.” James said. “I think (Noah) was more frustrated about the way he played as an individual. He didn’t help his team win.”
Again, Noah would take the high road; focusing not on LeBron’s attack, but on being respectful to ones’ opponents.
“It stinks to lose, man,” Noah said. “That’s the toughest thing, we can’t compete for 48 minutes. We’ve got to find a way to win games because this losing thing is not a good look, man, it’s just not. It’s not what anybody in this locker room expected. This losing thing is really frustrating.”
James’ Classless Actions and Comments
It’s obvious that LeBron James has much maturing to do.
I like LeBron James, and I believe him when he says he had no intent on disrespecting the Bulls, but still ignorance is no justification.
To have played as many basketball games as James has played and not know what good sportsmanship is about?
Not understanding that a team would be incensed by your dancing and posturing when your team is up 20?
And to compound it by calling out Joakim Noah in your post-game interview when you’ve won the game and obviously have the upper hand both as player and team?
This is the face the NBA wants representing their league?
That’s plain classless and there’s no better word that explains LeBron James’ decisions, actions and comments last night.
Basketball is a game. Games are supposed to be fun. Who cares if the entire Cavaliers bench jumps up and does a synchronized dance after every made basket? While I understand there has to be some level of professionalism in the NBA, there also has to be some emotion in it. Emotion makes games exciting. When players dance, jump, scream, chest bump, high five, pump their fist, they provide more entertainment and excitement. Yes, It can be frustrating when your team is losing but there is nobody to blame but yourself and your teammates.
“It’s nothing against the Bulls, it’s nothing against Joakim or any of those guys, it’s not something that’s new. We have fun, and we love to play the game of basketball. It’s nothing about showboating; that’s not what we do. I think he was frustrated by the way he played, maybe, as an individual, didn’t help his team win.” – James
How can you criticize Lebron for having a good time yet condone Joakim’s actions? How can you not say anything about the coaches who just let Joakim trash talk? Talk about hypocrisy. Joakim’s cursing and yelling while another player is attempting a foul shot is much worse than what Lebron did. His dancing wasn’t directed at any one person.
The Lebron smear campaign that has been going on lately is just pathetic. The things people criticize him for are ridiculous.
He hasn’t won a championship? So? He is young. He plays for Cleveland. He hasn’t had the talent to back him up. Everyone else on the team has been so inconsistent over the past few seasons. How can you bash a guy for not winning on a championship? He can’t carry an entire team.
He’s selfish? If you have watched Lebron play at all you would notice how many assists he gets per game. On top of that if you have ever met the guy he is one of the nicest people you have ever met.
He’s classless? How so? Because he was disappointed in himself last season and was too upset to shake the other teams hands? Are you serious? I would do the same thing. He got NO support from his teammates. On top of that nobody ever talks about all the times he DOES say “Good game.” after losing.
I think that the excitement and passion that Lebron brings to the game is exciting. Which is what makes me turn on my television to watch a game or pay 100$ a ticket to go down to the stadium. Sure he is over hyped. He is definately NOT the best player in the NBA. But he is an amazing basketball player and to deny that is just ignorant.
December 6th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
Whoa, did you just cut and paste that answer into comment sections across the web?
December 7th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Lebron James will still go down as one of the greatest to play this game. Who is Noah to say anything to Lebron. He is no where even skilled as Lebron Noah should’ve got a technical foul for starting the argument in the first place. Come on, you’re really going to talk trash to someone on the fee throw line. I honestly thought the dances were hot but it wasn’t only Lebron dancing, this team is notorious for their sideline antics. If you’re blowing a team out @ home and you have all the momentum, why not celebrate ? If the league has something to say about it, fine him then. Only when player’s stop when their wallets get lighter. I am pretty sure David Stern enjoys watching these dances. Talk about ignorant, did you see and hear Jordan’s induction speech ? Then again he has a right to be. Rick Kamla doesn’t know what he’s talikng about. Check out Rick’s Rant on NBA.com. He is the ideal hater right now. I rather see dancing on the sideline instead of being dunked on and the player walks right over you, ala Dwyane Wade. I know you saw that dunk over Andersen Varajeo, lol……………
December 8th, 2009 at 12:24 am
There was a point in time when the NFL would give out penalties for “misconducted” the kind of misconduct that we saw back then still exists today in a different and celebrated fashion; what I am to refering to if you havent already guessed is the players celebrations after every single play. you will see it in every football game college and nfl alike with every single player, it has become the way of the game, for two reasons, fans like it and players want to do it, so lets not repress and call it bad sportsmanship please..just let Lebron have fun.
December 10th, 2009 at 12:52 am
Junior, get off Lebron’s d*ck, your comment is so not fair, you’re all over Lebron… Here, we’re talking about respect and that’s something he might not know… Ever heard about Ovechkin’s fire stick in ice-hockey? Celebrating is a gay move, especially when it’s a long time before the end of the game… The guy’s lame and all his skills are just meaningless if he can’t stay humble and respect his opponents… Have you ever seen Usain Bolt laughing at his opponents? Even though he’s like 10x better? No.
December 10th, 2009 at 5:08 am
perhaps the real issue is what is apropriate in a major league sport. and dancing and carrying on before the clock runs out isnt cool. how many games change in the last 4 seconds with a basket? it may not have been the case with this game but if the whole league (more players on evry team) took this approach .. then we can rest assured we are only promoting the creation of self indulgent narcissists. I think Joakim had every right to tell him to sit down. its not about techincal skill in this case, its about respect. Lebron should take a lesson from Nash. he shakes the hand of the opponent after losing. hes a rock star.
January 31st, 2010 at 7:31 am
[...] that the Bulls would make the playoffs over the Raptors. After all, Joakim Noah gets to take that “hatred” he has for LeBron and use it as motivation for the Bulls’ playoff series against the Cavs. [...]
April 16th, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Welcome to 2010. Get over it. This isn’t golf.
April 19th, 2010 at 7:56 pm
cleveland…
Joakim Noah calls out, outclasses LeBron James (video) |…
July 27th, 2011 at 1:02 am