LeBron James throws shade at Los Angeles during fiery Knicks fan rant

LeBron James had a successful debut with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night, as he scored 14 points and added nine rebounds in a 106-100 win against the defending NBA champion New York Knicks.

But it wasn’t all smiles from James. A heated exchange he had with a Knicks fan sitting courtside stole the show — in part because of the stray that James’ former home seemed to catch.

Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James yells during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in New York. AP Photo/Frank Franklin II

“Ain’t nothing soft in the Midwest. I don’t know what the f—k you talking about,” James, who was born and raised in Akron, Ohio, said to the fan.

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“I’m not from the West Coast. I’m from Ohio, baby. I’m not a Midwest kid, I’m an Ohio baby. F–k is you talking about?”

Given that the fan was seemingly calling James, soft, his response of “I’m not from the West Coast” could be interpreted as him equating West Coast roots with being soft.

If this is the case, the irony is that James’ three children were primarily raised in Los Angeles.

LeBron James of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts during the first quarter of a game against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden in New York, Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James looks on during an NBA preseason game against the Sacramento Kings, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, Calif. NBAE via Getty Images

LeBron could have gotten his point across without implicating the entire West Coast, which is one reason why many Lakers fans were irked about his response.

Perhaps Bronny James will have some choice words for his dad’s West Coast shade when the two talk next, if only to prove that not everyone from Los Angeles is soft.

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lebron-james-throws-shade-los-203211559.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-21 20:32:00

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