Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is known for being a great basketball player. Beyond that, he also seemingly tries to make a positive impact on the world through his various charities and organizations. By all accounts he is a generous person. However, one issue continues to arise – his tipping practices.
This week, a woman recounted how poorly he tipped during an appearance at a Toronto club.
This is not the first time James has faced these sorts of accusations.
Fans noticed something interesting about Doris Burke in #NBA2K21 https://t.co/5q58jCibFN
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 23, 2020
Back in 2008, the then-Cleveland Cavaliers star was accused of leaving a $10 tip on an $800 bill. For reference, a standard 15 percent tip would’ve resulted in a $120 tip.
Another server alleged that in order to avoid any potential issues with James’ tipping they preemptively added gratuity to his bills.
“(S)he told us that (s)he avoided any such problems by always adding the gratuity to his check. One time when (s)he did this, James responded by saying that he wasn’t ‘with’ the folks that (s)he included on his bill. (S)he replied by telling him: ‘well, they need to give you some money, then.'”
Something about the Dwight Howard situation never made sense. Now it does. https://t.co/0ktXxXM9TY
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 23, 2020
It is odd that someone who has amassed as much money as James over the course of his career would repeatedly have this issue. While he may not want to leave a tip, surely leaving one is better than having to explain why you won’t when you have all the money in the world in your bank account.
Then again, one of his best friends, former NBA star Dwyane Wade, did once claim that James was the cheapest player in the league, so maybe it all makes sense.
Of course James isn’t alone in this type of alleged behavior from athletes.
Paulina Gretzky has taken Masters victory celebrations to a new level. https://t.co/K1yliTiGao
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 22, 2020
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was famously accused of running up a $25,000 bill at the Hard Rock Café in Las Vegas and then not leaving a tip.
Similarly, NFL running back LeSean McCoy once left a 20 cent tip on a $61 bill.
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods once allegedly tipped a waitress $5 at a $100,000 a hand blackjack table, only to take that money back when he realized he had previously tipped her already.
Gordon Hayward’s wife has never been one to bite her tongue. https://t.co/4yVNe8pMbU
— Game 7 (@game7__) November 21, 2020
All of which is to say – obviously James is not alone in his purported bad tipping practices. But not being the only famous athlete to be a bad tipper is not a justification for it.
Will James at some point explain the rationale for his behavior?
Time will tell.
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