TODAY’S TALKER

Lebron James should be ‘embarrassed,’ says Kareem Abdul-jabbar

Kareem Abdul-jabbar, speaking before the Lakers’ game Sunday at the unveiling of a social justice trophy bearing his name, again criticized Lebron James for actions he said “were beneath” James and that the Lakers’ star should be “embarrassed” by some of the things he’s done.

Abdul-jabbar wrote earlier this season about James’ handling of COVID-19 in public comments supporting Andrew Wiggins’ vaccine hesitancy and about James’ use of a meme equating COVID-19 to the common cold and the flu. He said the criticism was born of high expectations for James’ activism and how he’s addressed issues of inequality “quite forcefully and eloquently.” While he’s met James, the two men have not spoken about Abdul-jabbar’s criticisms.

“I wouldn’t mind doing it if he would take the time. I definitely got the time,”abdul-jabbar said of speaking with him.“i admire the things that he’s done that have gotten all our attention. Sending a whole school to college? Wow. That’s amazing. His thoughtfulness and willingness to back it up with his wallet, you got to give him credit for that.

“So I’m not throwing stones. I just wish he wouldn’t — you know, some of the things he’s done, he should be embarrassed about.”

James was unable to play Sunday against the Nuggets because of ankle soreness. James declined to directly address Abdul-jabbar’s earlier criticism about his use of the Spider-man meme in regards to COVID-19. “I don’t have a response to Kareem at all,”james said on Dec. 28.

James is chasing Abdul-jabbar for No. 1 on the all-time NBA scoring list, 1,325 points behind.