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LeBron James: The media is making drama of Kyrie vs. LeBron again

By Ronald Agers

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers with Kyrie Irving #11 after the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 23, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 23: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers with Kyrie Irving #11 after the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on January 23, 2020 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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LeBron James
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) – LeBron James /

LeBron James vs. Kyrie Irving can start with one simple conversation, playing one side against the other.

The one thing all parties can agree on is that there has never been a global chain of events like this in most of our lifetimes. Even if there was a time in history, nothing has shut down the NBA like this before. A pandemic was bad enough, but the ongoing protests of police brutality, continuing social media posts and more reports of police misconduct add fuel to the fire.

It is an unwritten rule that star players in the past have been able to bend the will of the majority of players of major league issues in the past. In those times it was based on financial lockouts based on negotiations with owners for the collective bargaining agreements.

That was about money. This is a different situation concerning lives and basic rights in this country. Each player has a lot to think about for the next five to six days.

  • Concerns about the Black Lives Matters movement.
  • Their health and safety. COVID-19 is the obvious concern. What about the players that are worrying about their next contract and don’t want to risk injury.
  • Time away from family.
  • Getting paid for this season, and the dramatic impact not playing would have on their financial futures.
  • Insurance and liabilities for players based on possible sicknesses, and/or injuries finishing the season. Kyle Kuzma is one of many young players asking for insurance. 

Here’s how the teams get set. Team Kyrie vs. Team LeBron.

Team Kyrie:

Players such as Irving see not playing as the best option, voicing concerns that the NBA should cancel its plans to resume the season and rather focus on bringing change to the ongoing social issues at hand. 

Team LeBron:

LeBron James has been at the forefront speaking out about social issues and guys such as Garrett Temple, Irving’s teammate, say it makes little sense to stop playing because of social justice when the players can accomplish both.

Plus, players look at Irving’s salary and roll their eyes in comparison to their own paychecks.

Now throw the discussion on a debate show and broadcast it in front of hungry NBA fans waiting on the season to start. The narrative starts.

Pay attention to what Skip Bayless said about how important it is for the NBA to come back. He stated their livelihood and the health of the show is predicated on players being on the floor. Well Skip can’t say it any better.

The entire sports business as we know it depends on these athletes playing. LeBron James playing on TV brings billions of dollars from the top sports networks (Fox Sports) all the way down to the smallest beat writer. We all want the season to start back so we can have a steady flow of subjects to cover. In the postseason, the excitement and motivation to hit a keyboard will be at an all-time high.

There are plenty of media personalities that disagree with Kyrie Irving. Some are disagreeing the right way and explaining why and there are others that are taking shots at Irving’s character.