Links to the Present: “Posse on Cleveland” Edition

By now, you’ve probably heard about the latest NBA drama between New York Knicks president Phil Jackson, LeBron James and his friends, Maverick Carter and Rich Paul.

To recap, a recent interview with ESPN Nov. 14 was released with Jackson referring to both Carter, James’ business partner, and Paul, his agent, as LeBron’s “posse.”

In the the interview Jackson was asked the hypothetical question about Michael Jordan leaving him like LeBron left Cleveland back in 2010. In his answer, he characterized James as needing “special treatment,” pointing specifically to a night when James was playing for the Miami Heat and he and his business partners wanted to spend the night in Cleveland after the game, something teams typically do not do. Jackson went on to say:

“You can’t hold up the whole team because you and your mom and your posse want to spend an extra night in Cleveland.”

After the interview was released, the three victims came back by saying that the use of “posse” was not the right word he should have chosen.

According to Carter:

“If he would have said LeBron and his agent, LeBron and his business partners or LeBron and his friends, that’s one thing,” Carter said. “Yet because you’re young and black, he can use that word. We’re grown men.”

All the hard work,effort and achievement and @PhilJackson11 still calls us a "posse"every step you take they remind you, you ghetto" @S_C_ pic.twitter.com/OPsPvAvFoM

— Maverick Carter (@mavcarter) November 14, 2016

LeBron agreed with Carter adding that he once “had” respect for Jackson as a coach, but now, “he’s got nothing for him.”

New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony also felt that Jackson’s use of words were offensive, but defended him by saying that he didn’t mean it in that way.

Either way, I understand why James, Carter and Paul would be upset. Even if Jackson didn’t intend to be derogatory, with issues of race being so prevalent in our society — and with how outspoken James has been on the matter — it’s no surprise that he and his friends took the term “posse” as a slight.

If you follow the Cavs or the NBA at large, you may have noticed that LeBron — as well as every other top player — gets his “special treatment.” Sometimes it can seem like a bit much, but like Anthony said, “I just don’t understand Phil talking about LeBron right now. In November. I don’t understand that.”

In additional links…

•Paul and Carter may soon have some new rivals in LeBron’s inner circle… namely, Bugs Bunny and Porky Pig.

Following Space Jam‘s 20th anniversary this year, rumors have been flying all over the media about a sequel to the classic 90’s movie Space Jam starring basketball legend Michael Jordan. For the second film, many have named LeBron James and Stephen Curry as two potential candidates for the lead.

While many fans (myself included) think a sequel would be a welcome dose of nostalgia, I may have to agree with the original film’s director Joe Pytka:

“I think it’s ridiculous to try and make a different movie out of it,” he declares. “I can’t see it. I can’t imagine how it could be what that film was. Not that Space Jam is a great movie, but it had something that touched that period of time because of who those athletes were and it doesn’t exist anymore.”

•Carmelo Anthony, Kyrie Irving star in hilarious new Foot Locker ads to promote the company’s annual “Week of Greatness.”

•From one great to “The Greatest of All Time”: LeBron James donates $2.5 million to Muhammad Ali Exhibit.