NBA superstar LeBron James is taking a break from social media over “hate and negativity” spread online.
James, the NBA’s oldest active player – he turns 40 next month – is a four-time NBA champion and a three-time Olympic gold medallist, the most recent of those coming earlier this year at the Paris Games. But despite his success, the criticism from the media has sparked a backlash.
The league’s all-time leading scorer and Los Angeles Lakers forward posted the announcement on X and Instagram to his 200 million-plus followers on Wednesday. The Space Jam Legacy star initially caught the attention by reposting to something that Rich Kleiman, Kevin Durant’s long-time manager, posted to X last month.
“With so much hate and negativity in the world today, it confuses me why some of national sports media still think that the best way to cover sports is through negative takes. We can all acknowledge that sports is the last part of society that universally brings people together. So why can’t the coverage do the same?” Kleiman wrote that day. “It’s only click bait when you say it. When the platform is so big, you can make the change and allow us all an escape from real life negativity. I for one find it all a waste of breath.”
On Instagram, James reposted Kleiman’s comments and added the caption, ‘Damn shame what it’s come to’. On X, his repost of Kleiman simply said, ‘AMEN!!’
“And with that said I’ll holla at y’all! Getting off social media for the time being. Y’all take care,” he announce on another post. James had hinted at disaffection with online criticism following the Lakers’ win over Utah on Tuesday, when Los Angeles rookie Dalton Knecht erupted for 37 points. The Lakers are 10-4, winners of six straight games, and next play Thursday at home against Orlando.