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  • Dave McMenaminESPN Staff Writer

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    • Lakers and NBA reporter for ESPN.
    • Covered the Lakers and NBA for ESPNLosAngeles.com from 2009-14, the Cavaliers from 2014-18 for ESPN.com and the NBA for NBA.com from 2005-09.

LOS ANGELES -- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar publicly criticized LeBron James in one case again Sunday, with the Los Angeles Lakers legend saying he believes the current Lakers star has a greater responsibility in how he conducts himself given his elevated platform.

"Some of the things he's done and said are really beneath him, equally far as I can see," Abdul-Jabbar said before the Lakers' 129-118 loss to the Denver Nuggets. "Some of the great things that he'due south done, he'due south continuing on both sides of the fence almost, you lot know? It makes it hard for me to take that when he'southward committed himself to a unlike accept on everything. It's hard to figure out where he'southward standing. You've got to check him out every time."

Abdul-Jabbar, on mitt to present James' teammate, Carmelo Anthony, with the newly designed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Trophy to honor Anthony every bit the NBA'southward Social Justice Champion for the 2020-21 season, has already voiced his thwarting in James several times this season.

Afterward James celebrated a belatedly-game 3 in an overtime win against the Indiana Pacers by mimicking the trip the light fantastic toe that former NBA All-Star Sam Cassell made popular, accentuating his nether regions, Abdul-Jabbar was pointed in his disapproval.

"For me, winning is enough," Abdul-Jabbar said in a video posted through Substack, a subscription commentary website, in early December. "Why do you demand to do a stupid, childish dance and disrespect the other squad on the court? It doesn't make sense. GOATs don't dance."

Afterward that month, Abdul-Jabbar took aim at James once again after the four-time MVP shared a Spider-Man meme to his Instagram business relationship showing three identical Spider-Man characters pointing at one another, affixed with the labels "COVID," "common cold," and "flu."

Abdul-Jabbar wrote on Substack that the social media post was a "accident to his worthy legacy" considering the "implication is that LeBron doesn't sympathise the deviation amidst these three illnesses, fifty-fifty after all the data that's presented in the printing."

Abdul-Jabbar referenced both of his prior critiques on Sunday in explaining his stance on the xix-year veteran.

"Absolutely, [I have] a higher expectation for him because he understands the issues and spoken to them quite forcefully and eloquently," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I remember he has so much going for him in terms of respect and accomplishment and he shouldn't stoop to those moments."

James dismissed Abdul-Jabbar's criticism at the fourth dimension.

"I don't have a response to Kareem at all," James said. "And if you saw the post and you read the tag, yous're literally, honestly asking, 'Help me out?' Help me kind of effigy information technology all out. We're all trying to figure this pandemic out."

Anthony, asked if he would facilitate a coming together for the two to discuss their differences, said that while he's not certain what the outcome is, he would encourage a sit down downwardly.

"In our community nosotros need those tough conversations, we need those uncomfortable conversations," Anthony said. "And so if Kareem wants to sit down and talk, if Bron want to sit downwardly and talk, I recall that'due south a conversation that needs to be had. I don't retrieve we need Kareem lashing out at Bron, and you haven't seen Bron say anything about Kareem. ... I think that would be a powerful conversation."

Abdul-Jabbar said his and James' in-person interactions have simply been brief, merely he would too welcome a further connection.

"If he would take the time, I definitely got the time," Abdul-Jabbar said. "I admire the things that he'southward washed that take gotten all our attending. Sending a whole schoolhouse to higher? Wow. That's amazing. His thoughtfulness and willingness to back information technology up with his wallet, y'all got to requite him credit for that. And then I'chiliad non throwing stones. I merely wish he wouldn't -- you know, some of the things he's done, he should be embarrassed about. That's merely where I'g coming from."

Despite that standpoint, Abdul-Jabbar welcomes James' pursuit of his NBA scoring record, which he has held for almost 38 years after he eclipsed Wilt Chamberlain's previous career scoring total.

"I'one thousand all for him doing it," Abdul-Jabbar said. "There'southward no envy in that location. ... Just -- with the issues I was talking about, things that really affect the Black community, he should exist careful. That's all I'm asking."

Abdul-Jabbar after tweeted on Sunday dark that "I regret my off-handed response which has been blown out of proportion. For years I've expressed my deep admiration and respect for LeBron equally a customs leader and athlete. That hasn't inverse and never will."