During the Los Angeles Lakers’ victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night, superstar LeBron James received pointed criticism for celebrating on the court with no shoes on while the game was still being played.
In the midst of a blowout, Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma rejected two shots in a row in the fourth quarter. The strong defensive sequence led James to happily jump around on the court with his socks on while waiving a towel in the air.
Although Jazz announcers said James’ actions were disrespectful and out of place, the four-time MVP responded with a powerful statement on Instagram.
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James, 34, headlined his response with good intentions. The reason the veteran wasn’t wearing shoes was because he gave them away to a young fan. Furthermore, the three-time champion cheered and supported his teammate for making an amazing defensive play.
The Lakers throttled the Jazz, 121-96, on the road. James put up 20 points and 12 assists, while Anthony Davis chipped in with 26 points, six boards and three blocks. On the opposing end, Jazz star Donovan Mitchell led his squad with 29 points, five assists and four rebounds.
While James acknowledged the noise and criticism from Wednesday’s contest, he’s clearly not letting it bother him. The 17-year pro is having an amazing season, and the Lakers are sitting atop the Western Conference standings.
The 6-foot-9 stud is putting up 25.4 points, 10.8 assists and 7.0 rebounds per game this season.
