LeBron James Refused To Hug Just 1 Player At NBA All Star Game
LeBron James Refused To Hug Just 1 Player At NBA All Star Game
LeBron James sparked speculation during the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco when video footage showed him greeting players differently in the locker room. While most players received warm hugs and enthusiastic greetings, Jaylen Brown got a noticeably cooler reception.
LeBron makes the rounds at his 21st #NBAAllStar appearance 👑🌟
He and Shaq’s OGs take the floor for the mini-tournament at 8 PM ET on TNT! pic.twitter.com/lMdVX488FZ
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2025
The tension potentially stems from a July 2024 incident where Brown was recorded making comments about LeBron’s son, Bronny James. During a courtside conversation, Brown expressed doubts about Bronny’s professional capabilities, suggesting his NBA position might be influenced by his family name.
Key Events Leading to Tension:
- Brown’s recorded comments about Bronny James (July 2024)
- Brown’s criticism of Nike (LeBron’s major sponsor)
- The All-Star Game greeting incident (February 2025)
The relationship between Brown and James has faced additional complexities. Brown previously criticized Nike when Derrick White was selected as Team USA’s injury replacement instead of him. This criticism might have strained relations further, given James’ significant partnership with Nike.
Brown’s professional achievements remain impressive despite any perceived tension:
- NBA Finals MVP
- All-NBA selection in 2023
- Super max contract qualification
- Strong All-Star voting numbers
The NBA’s video footage of the locker room interactions shows a notable edit between Brown’s greeting and James’ subsequent interaction with Kyrie Irving. This editing choice has fueled further discussion among fans and media about the nature of their relationship.
Both players maintain professional silence regarding any potential discord. Neither James nor Brown has publicly addressed questions about their dynamic, maintaining focus on their respective team responsibilities with the Lakers and Celtics.
The basketball community remains divided on interpreting these events. Some view it as natural professional distance, while others see it as a protective father’s response to criticism of his son. Fan support for both players continues strong, with Celtics supporters particularly vocal in defending Brown’s accomplishments and reputation.
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.
