LeBron James' last-minute decision to skip the NBA All-Star Game has left one of his former teammates peeved.
Kendrick Perkins, who shared a locker room with James in Cleveland, believes the Lakers star should have forewarned the NBA about his ankle injury so the league could have named a replacement.
"He probably knew he wasn't going to play when he was selected for the All-Star Game," Perkins told ESPN's "Get Up" on Monday. "How about giving people a heads up? [How about] not showing up to the actual All-Star weekend a hour before the game starts? And then all of a sudden, you're taking away from another guy who should have earned to be in the All-Star Game."
Perkins added that Clippers guard Norman Powell, averaging a career-high 24.2 points, should have been called up to replace James after being snubbed from the original roster.
"Am I mad about 'Bron not playing? No, I get it. He's 40. But I'm mad about how he went about it."
The former Celtic also ripped James for showing up to the Chase Center in street clothes instead of a Lakers uniform, questioning his professionalism and enthusiasm for the All-Star Game. James sat beside his Shaq's OGs teammates but did not enter the game.
.@KendrickPerkins reacts to LeBron missing the All-Star Game.
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) February 17, 2025
"Do I have a problem with LeBron James missing the All-Star game at the age of 40 because of injury? Absolutely not. But it's how he did it. And he knew that he wasn't going to play when he probably was selected to… pic.twitter.com/HxzqaY6Cu7
Perkins wasn't alone in his criticism of James. Warriors star Draymond Green and TNT analyst Jalen Rose shared the same view.
LeBron James will not participate in this year's NBA All-Star Game, and his late announcement garnered reactions around the league.
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) February 17, 2025
More from All-Star Weekend ⤵️https://t.co/3B9dxG37qd pic.twitter.com/nUTB3urrT6
Besides James, the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo (calf), Anthony Davis (abductor strain) and Anthony Edwards (groin) also sat out the All-Star festivities with injuries. The NBA named Trae Young and Kyrie Irving as replacements for Antetokounmpo and Davis, but couldn't name a sub in time for either James or Edwards, who withdrew at the last minute.
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