Reggie Miller Makes Obvious Slight At LeBron James, Calling Out 'GOAT' For Lacking Accountability
(We all heard that dig at LeBron, right?)
TNT's broadcast featuring Kevin Harlan, Reggie Miller and Jamal Crawford dropped a headline-worthy moment after Miller took a "subtle" jab at LeBron James during a playoff game Sunday.
There was nothing subtle about Miller's comments as the analyst did everything but outright name James as the player he was criticizing.
Audiences were caught off guard during Sunday's must-win Game 4 for both the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
DENVER, CO - APRIL 29: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers and Austin Reaves #15 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during the game against the Denver Nuggets during Round One Game Five of the 2024 NBA Playoffs on April 29, 2024 at the Ball Arena in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - APRIL 11: TNT commentator Reggie Miller reports during the game between the New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings on April 11, 2024 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)
LeBron Dodges Blame, Implies TNT Analyst and Ex-Pacer Reggie Miller
During the first quarter, Miller laid the glaze on Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, praising the budding player for always being accountable. Reggie dropped an exclamation point on his comments by calling out an NBA Mount Rushmore star who's building a reputation as a blame dodger.
That guy, to no shock, is Lakers' LeBron James.
Miller said, "I'm an even bigger fan of Anthony Edwards. We've got certain guys with veteran status in our game that are on a lot of people's Mount Rushmore that like to deflect and point fingers at others. Here's a 22-year-old saying, it's my fault. And I applaud that."
Unless you want to start pointing fingers at Bill Russell, LeBron James makes sense as Miller's problem player.
READ: Famed Laker Byron Scott's Honest Critique Of Control Freak LeBron James: Just Coach The Team
The clock starts ticking on a potential response from LeBron.
Chances are that James caught the comments watching from home, praying on the demise of the Nuggets, a team with more ownership of the Lakers than Jeanie Buss.
Too Many Axed Coaches
All the remaining buzz surrounding the Lakers this postseason revolves around their head coaching vacancy. LeBron James (nicknamed "Coach Killer" by some) watched another head coach get axed after a disappointing season.
James has played under eight different head coaches.
Reggie Miller's qualms with LeBron echo throughout the league, even among the retired legends, who are calling out the new generation's "King" for continually having a scapegoat for his shortcomings.
Two-year Lakers coach Darvin Ham became the first coach to be fired following a postseason appearance. Since his run with Miami's Erik Spoelstra, LeBron James' picks for head coach have become puppets for his game plan.
This week, Lakers icon Byron Scott challenged the Lakers to hire LeBron as a player-coach, knowing James will overrule any coach with less clout than the King.
LeBron's Invisible Hand over the Lakers organization is reflected in coaching decisions and roster construction.
Edwards, the trending NBA All-Star of the postseason, fully accounts for the team's shortcomings, even after a playoff loss, which some fans see as a good sign for the future league star.
Follow along on X: @alejandroaveela
Send a message: alejandro.avila@outkick.com