Boston Celtics: To address LeBron James’ hatred for Boston

Remember that time a locked in LeBron James led the Miami Heat into the TD Garden and basically single-handedly beat Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the Boston Celtics in Game 6 of the 2012 Eastern Conference Finals?

That 45-point performance was considered the defining moment in the career of LeBron James.  It was also a game he became public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of Celtics fans who saw a championship window end at the hands of the new dominant force of the NBA.

It was because of his ability to take over a game, not his skin color.  In fact, when opposing teams’ fans hate you, you must be doing something right and LeBron for so many years have been doing things right.  Fast forward to the 2018 Eastern Conference Finals and that same man took down a young Boston Celtics team lead by Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.

Again, ripping the heart out of Celtics fans, LeBron carried a Cleveland Cavaliers team to the NBA Finals.  So, any wonder why there are “F—LeBron James” T-shirts?

LeBron James has a gripe against Boston Celtics fans

Over the summer, James made headlines by adding fuel to the “Boston is racist” mantra.  During a segment on his show “The Shop”, James went after Celtics fans.

"“They will say (anything) and it’s fine,” James said.  “I mean, f—, it’s my life.  It’s s—I’ve been dealing with my whole life.  I don’t mind it.  Like, I hear it.  Like if I hear somebody, like, close by, I’ll check ‘em real quick.  I move on to the game.“There was like a ‘F—LBJ’ T-shirt.  I believe they probably sold it at the f—ing team shop.  The Celtics had something to do with that s–.”"

That last statement went a bit far.  The team did not license the t-shirts, but there is a motive behind LeBron’s sudden outburst against the city of Boston.  In the same summer that Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell was laid to rest, the racist past of the city was re-visited with how the great Russell was treated during a time in this country life was hard for all African Americans no matter where they lived.

The team’s success back then and the fact they were led by a black man put the city in the spotlight.  That doesn’t excuse fans or any attitudes in 2022.  James may have absolutely heard what he heard and experienced what he experienced, but why now?

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LeBron James has played in the NBA for 19 seasons but waits until he puts on a Los Angeles Lakers uniform to express his disdain for the city of Boston and Celtics fans, which many of those fans go to the game to see him play. Why now?

Is it because the Boston Celtics have a real chance at an NBA championship and LeBron wants to stir that Lakers-Celtics rivalry again?

Yeah, that’s it.  When asked about whether he still hated Boston during media day, here is what James had to say.

"“I still hate Boston,” James said.  “Don’t get that twisted.  We all hate Boston here.”"

Here, meaning the Lakers organization.

Again, LeBron James has his experiences that no one can debate or take away from him, but this “hatred” is all about the brand, all about the greatest rivalry in perhaps all of sports.  If the Lakers get their act together, these two teams could meet up in the NBA Finals to add another chapter in that rivalry.

Perhaps it is LeBron (who is a part owner of the Boston Red Sox mind you) getting in the heads of Boston Celtics fans to add some fuel to that potential matchup or perhaps the city of Boston is in his head.  Whatever it is, there is a narrative he is pushing that really isn’t fear to a large percentage of fans who go to these games.

To conclude, it’s not that LeBron James is expressing something many African American athletes have expressed, it’s more about the timing of it.

“Beat L.A!”