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- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar blames poor start to season for Lakers, says they looked ‘gassed’ in playoffs
- Report: There are ‘corners’ of Lakers organization that want to bring back D’Angelo Russell
- Report: ‘Door is not closed’ on Kyrie Irving joining Lakers in future even if he re-signs with Mavs this offseason
- Lakers insider doesn’t think team will sign Anthony Davis to extension this summer
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar mentions sad truth about relationship with LeBron James while describing admiration for him
- Report: Kyrie Irving wants to shut down notion that he’s ‘angling’ to get to Lakers
- Gilbert Arenas says LeBron James will be behind Karl Malone if he goes to Dallas Mavericks
- Jaren Jackson Jr. calls LeBron James the ‘greatest player to play’ the game of basketball
- Report: Lakers have maintained that they have no interest in Kyrie Irving
Famed Jeweler Ben Baller Says Kobe Bryant’s Death Has Mitigated Hate for LeBron James
- Updated: January 29, 2020
Many of the biggest Kobe Bryant supporters have also been some of the biggest LeBron James haters.
Even amongst Los Angeles Lakers fans, some Bryant fans simply haven’t been able to fully embrace James.
One such basketball fan who always had a problem with James had been famed jeweler Ben Baller.
However, in a fascinating change of heart, Baller took to Twitter shortly after the death of Bryant to state that his hatred of James has come to an end.
You know what. It being my birthday and I’m old as fuck. Nearly 50. I can’t even remember specifically why I hate Lebron so much and why I been his biggest hater and talked so much shit. So the slander stops today. It’s stupid on my part. Enough negativity.
— BEN BALLERâ„¢ ? (@BENBALLER) January 28, 2020
There’s no doubt that seeing Bryant’s life end so abruptly had an impact on Baller’s sentiment towards James.
Perhaps Baller decided that life is simply too short to spend time hating on others. It is also possible that seeing the entire basketball world come together to grieve inspired Baller to put his past opinions behind him.
Whatever the reason, the positivity is certainly most welcome during this trying time.
Hopefully, this tragedy encourages more fans to let go of their past biases against certain players. After all, the game of basketball is at its best when it is being celebrated with love and happiness.
Baller seems to understand that. If more fans come to share that sentiment as a result of Bryant’s passing, there’s no doubt that his legacy will have an incredibly positive impact on the sport going forward.