{"id":698647,"date":"2026-04-04T23:33:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-04T23:33:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698647\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T23:33:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T23:33:20","slug":"lakers-lebron-james-doubles-down-on-comments-about-memphis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/698647\/","title":{"rendered":"Lakers\u2019 LeBron James doubles down on comments about Memphis"},"content":{"rendered":"

DALLAS \u2014 LeBron James doubled down on his comments from earlier in the week about Memphis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When asked after the team\u2019s Saturday practice at Southern Methodist University if he wanted to clarify comments he made about Memphis during an appearance on the \u201cBob Does Sports\u201d show<\/a>, in which he suggested the Grizzlies should be relocated to Nashville, James pointed out that Memphis wasn\u2019t the only city he was critical of.<\/p>\n

\u201cI said Milwaukee as well,\u201d James said. \u201cI\u2019m 41 years old, there\u2019s two cities I do not like playing in right now: that\u2019s Milwaukee and that\u2019s Memphis. I don\u2019t like going home either, s\u2013t, and I\u2019m from there. People are ridiculous. They also get mad at my son being on the team, too.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LosLos Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James reacts during the first half against the Brooklyn Nets at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images
\n IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n

While appearing on the YouTube show, James was asked about whether in-season travel wears on him, with the Lakers star acknowledging it does.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA random f\u2014ing Tuesday in Milwaukee, staying at the f\u2014ing Hyatt at 41 years old; you think I want to do that s\u2013t?,\u201d James said on the show. \u201cBeing in Memphis on a f\u2014ing random ass Thursday? I\u2019m not even, like, the first guy to talk about it in the NBA. We\u2019re all, like, \u2018You guys have to move.\u2019 Just go over to Nashville. You\u2019ve got Vanderbilt over there. You\u2019ve got the f\u2014king NASCAR. You\u2019ve got a stadium. Don\u2019t they got a hockey team, too? They\u2019ve got everything.\u201d<\/p>\n

“Did I say I don’t like Black people?\u2026I’m 41 years old. There’s two cities I do not like playing in. That’s Milwaukee and that’s Memphis. I don’t like going home, either. S\u2013t, and I’m from here.” \u2013 LeBron James when asked if he wanted to clarify the comments he made on Bob\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/St9X9ebyTM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Khobi Price (@khobi_price) April 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

James\u2019 comments were widely criticized, especially from those in Memphis, citing Memphis being one of the more densely-populated cities of Black people (by percentage of population) compared to other NBA cities.<\/p>\n

\u201cDid I say I don\u2019t like Black people? No,\u201d James said.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

He added: \u201cI\u2019m not talking about the city, like the people in Memphis. I don\u2019t like staying at the Hyatt Centric. What\u2019s wrong with that? Nothing. What are we talking about? What are we talking about? People need to chill the hell out.\u201d<\/p>\n

Memphis Mayor Paul Young responded to James\u2019 original comments by inviting him to his city.<\/p>\n

\u201cI would welcome the chance to turn your criticism into action in one of the most important cities in the world,\u201d Young wrote in Facebook post<\/a>, which included ESPN\u2019s Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins complimenting Memphis. \u201cCome to Memphis and roll around with me for a bit and I will show you some of the culture and powerful investment opportunities in our City. Let\u2019s do something epic in one of the largest majority Black cities in the nation!\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t