Photo Credit: Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP Photo

Jay Williams Criticizes LeBron James After Startling Admission About His Condition: “I Never Heard MJ Say Something Like That”

After being sidelined for 20 games due to an ankle injury, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James made a two-game return, with the first one being against the Sacramento Kings last Friday. The Lakers received instant contribution from their best player, but they were unable to take advantage and fell flat against a Kings team without De’Aaron Fox.

While the Lakers’ loss prompted emotions and storylines, what LeBron said after the game shifted all the attention and made bigger headlines. After the loss, LeBron said that he doesn’t think he’ll get back to 100% in his career.

Per ESPN:

“I knew I wasn’t going to get back to 100%. It’s impossible. I don’t think I will ever get back to 100% in my career.”

Just before his injury, LeBron was playing at a high level and was one of the front runners for MVP. For him to perform at that level is pretty impressive, but at the end of the day, all the minutes he had played and all the miles on his body are starting to catch up to him.

As LeBron went real about his condition, former NBA player and now-NBA analyst Jay Williams criticized the four-time champion for being vulnerable enough to admit it, and even said that Michael Jordan, who often gets compared to LeBron, would never have said such thing.

As transcribed by Peter Dewey of Lakers Daily:

“LeBron James took no time off,” Williams said. “Remember after they won a championship, everybody started talking about, ‘Maybe LeBron James should load manage and really kind of ease into this.’ He didn’t do that. He refused to do that, played almost every game throughout the season. I respect that about LeBron James, puts him in a tough situation now. I still think if he’s healthy they’ll be OK.”

“As a guy who played for the [Chicago] Bulls, who has watched Michael Jordan for a long time, I’ve never heard MJ say something like that,” Williams said. “MJ just wouldn’t say anything.”

“I’ve never heard MJ say something like that…MJ just wouldn’t say anything at all.”
 @RealJayWilliams doesn’t like that LeBron James said he will never be 100% healthy again pic.twitter.com/4eLvnxH1Zm

— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) May 5, 2021