LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers to their 17th franchise championship this past Sunday night. With a 106-93 victory over the Miami Heat, James officially won his fourth title on his third different team.
During the postgame celebrations, while Rajon Rondo’s young son was drinking something or other, James could be seen doing a bunch of different handshakes and gestures with his teammates. One of them caught the eye of the Gangster Disciples, a notorious criminal organization formed in the South Side of Chicago in the late 1960s.
Specifically, James was accused of “dropping rakes” during the championship festivities, a gesture viewed as being disrespectful towards the Gangster Disciples.
Lebron droppin’ the rakes yakwtfgo pic.twitter.com/vxPTaCyJ0X
— ☘️☀️ (@1017slater) October 13, 2020
According to MTONews.com, the “most visited African American News Network,” James “upset many in Chicago’s largest gang, the Gangster Disciples” with his actions.
“And some in the dangerous gang think that Lebron was deliberately taunting them with his hand gestures – and are now threatening the NBA star on social media,” the report continued.
People immediately took to social media to respond.
Lebron keep dropping rakes we gone get on yo ass dude n we fuck with u and Chicago
— ΨSQUEAKY★DUH★SAVAGEΨ (@BornASavage095) October 12, 2020
Them niggas say Lebron Need To Stop Dropping Rakes
— #RipGabe (@BigSwizzle3) October 12, 2020
AD MADE LEBRON DROP THE raKes 🤣🤣🤣
— Elvergalarga (@Unknown_230) October 12, 2020
Lebron gotta stop dropping the rakes….. mad disrespectful
— Eazy the God (@CHI_Eazy041) October 12, 2020
We jumpin Lebron for droppin rakes
— Vocal😤Netizen (@Vocal_Netizen) October 12, 2020
Lebron was dropping the rakes on live tv they ain’t say nothing , but have the nerve to try and fuck with John wall when that video came out 😂
— Hefner 🕺🏽 (@LamarHefner) October 12, 2020
Lmfaoo lebron dropped the rakes like 3 times 😭
— 🦈 GLO (@Sauce1017) October 12, 2020
King Von & fans react to LeBron James dropping the rakes on National TV last night 💀💀 pic.twitter.com/PhC9CdReqC
— Saycheese TV 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) October 12, 2020
Lebron droppin the rakes like he affiliated 🤣🤦♂️
— BigBis (@t_bis3) October 12, 2020
Imma big LeBron fan… but him he gotta stop droppin the rakes
— E B✌🏿Wavy 🌊🏄🏿♂️ (@Doughboy_29) October 12, 2020
Lebron dropped the rakes 💀
— Rico ➐ (@ricothewaver) October 12, 2020
Lebron Been Droppin Rakes Sdfu 🤣
— BABY DRACO🦍 (@FvckYouSon) October 12, 2020
LeBron da Goat, Mike ain’t never drop the rakes on National TV 😭😭
— De〽️ario ✈️ LL〽️ (@ABread_Winner) October 12, 2020
Ion Care How Many Times Lebron Drop The Rakes I Love That 💯😂
— RockyTwinz MrCutUp (@NoSleepCity) October 12, 2020
Why niggas talking bout lebron dropping rakes 😒
— Lani G (@BaljeetBond0074) October 12, 2020
Lebron be dropping the rakes like a mf, u safe in Chicago tho lord @KingJames
— 吃我的短褲 (@roadhouse2100) October 12, 2020
DID LEBRON JUST DROP DA RAKES ON NATIONAL TELEVISION LMFAOOOOOOOOOO??? pic.twitter.com/eZ0Sv8kE20
— terrible tweeter (@HOLLYWOODBEL) October 12, 2020
Lebron droppin’ the rakes yakwtfgo pic.twitter.com/vxPTaCyJ0X
— ☘️☀️ (@1017slater) October 13, 2020
My nigga Lebron droppin fat ass rakes 😂😂😭😭 https://t.co/O8ZcrcajDU
— John Jacob (@luhleek43) October 13, 2020
G did I see lebron drop da rakes? 😡
— BLACK (@BigBlack773) October 13, 2020
Lebron dropping rakes??? Lmfao whats this about?
— Big Daddy (@Black_RicFlair) October 13, 2020
Seeing Lebron drop rakes too funny
— Chief Glizzy (@ThisGuy_Holmes) October 13, 2020
They said LEBRON was dropping the rakes last night on tv 💀💀💀
— FLA$H⚡️ (@Flash2L) October 13, 2020
lebron dropping the rakes i fucks wit it 💪🏾😂
— nizaer (@NaturallyNaz) October 12, 2020
this like the 3rd picture of lebron dropping rakes 😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/PEZKQVryJC
— yung waveybaby (@_abdirahmannur) October 12, 2020
As of Tuesday, James has yet to comment on the internet chatter regarding his postgame celebration. That said, it’s hard to imagine that he intentionally sought out to disrespect any gang on national television. More likely than not, the whole thing is just one big misunderstanding.
Related: Trump Reacts To Lakers Winning NBA Championship
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
