Mychal Thompson Comments on LeBron James' On-Court Behavior
LeBron James is not shy about voicing his frustration when referees swallow their whistles on plays he believes to be fouls, which irks former NBA star Mychal Thompson, father of Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson.
"We all respect LeBron's ability...but man, sometimes he acts too entitled like he's supposed to get everything he wants," Mychal Thompson said Monday, per Diamond Leung of the Bay Area News Group.
Per Leung, Thompson added that James "couldn't have survived in the '80s with the physicality and the words guys said to each other back then."
These comments come on the heels of Warriors forward Draymond Green getting suspended for Monday's Game 5 of the NBA Finals for accruing too many flagrant fouls after he hit James in the groin during the fourth quarter of Game 4 on Friday.
Green explained the controversial sequence to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated:
"[James] stepped over me and I felt like that was disrespectful. I don’t disrespect you on the court. Don’t disrespect me. There’s no love lost. It is what it is. It’s a battle out there. I’m going to battle with whoever it is.
We had our words. I said what I had to say and he said what he had to say. Move on. I’m not going to sit there and argue with him. I know what position I’m in, in terms of double techs and stuff. Just move on from it.
"
Klay Thompson told reporters Monday that James' "feelings just got hurt" because Green also called him "a bad word" as part of the trash talk during the sequence that ultimately led to Green's suspension, according to ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst.
The elder Thompson is defending his son's team as it seeks to close out the NBA Finals in Game 5, as well as taking a shot at James. His comments don't accomplish anything, however, because complaining about a lack of calls is just part of the NBA.
The Warriors can be frustrated about not having Green on the court, but he did it to himself. He's not innocent in this case; he told reporters during the Western Conference Finals he had to cut down on his technical fouls because it could eventually hurt the team.
Green's absence for one game may not significantly impact Golden State's quest for a second straight title. Even if Cleveland wins Monday, the Warriors haven't lost three straight games all season and have looked superior to the Cavaliers in three of the first four games.
James' body language has demonstrated his frustration with the way things have gone this series. Frustrated players are going to vent to referees, even when they need to worry about themselves and their teammates.
