LeBron James Calls Out Celtics Broadcasters For Subtle Dig

The Celtics kicked off preseason action in Abu Dhabi on Friday, and there already was NBA drama.

Russell Westbrook signed a two-year deal this offseason with the Nuggets, which includes a player option. The veteran played 19 minutes in Denver’s loss to Boston in the exhibition matchup, so the NBC Sports Boston broadcast discussed Westbrook and in the process took a dig at LeBron James.

“But I’ll tell you what, I am rooting for him to make like nine threes against the Lakers because he got a lot of heat for that,” Brian Scalabrine said of Westbrook’s Los Angeles tenure. “That was a disaster of a team, and he got all the heat for that whole thing. So I’m kind of hoping that he can make a bunch of threes.”

“You’re telling me one of LeBron’s teammates became a scapegoat out of nowhere?” Drew Carter said.

James didn’t play in the Lakers’ opening preseason game — his son did make his debut — and had enough time to see the comment and respond.

“Took a trip all the way to Abu Dhabi to be on my … Eat some breakfast first! Anyways Brodie (Westbrook) a LEGEND,” James posted on X on Saturday.

Westbrook’s career definitely took a turn for the worse in his first season with Los Angeles in the 2021-22 campaign and his sixth-man role seemed contentious for the locker room. The All-Star looked better when he signed with the Clippers after the Lakers dealt him away during the 2022-23 season. And last season’s first-round exit led to Darvin Ham — another possible scapegoat candidate — getting fired and JJ Redick getting hired as the new head coach.

The Celtics don’t play the Lakers until Jan. 23, but it could shape up to be another memorable encounter between the rivals.