JJ Redick just pulled the band-aid off a wound to have a very open and honest conversation about why fans really had issues with Lebron James and Kevin Durant making decisions to go to other teams.
The longtime NBA veteran and had a long conversation with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, tackling all aspects of racism in the United States and that included “The Decision.”
The New Orleans Pelicans sharpshooter argued that the free-agent decisions that LeBron James (2010) and Kevin Durant (2016) took major backlash due to Caucasian people being uncomfortable with a powerful black man being in a position of absolute power.
“Kevin Durant in 2016 when he joined the Warriors. LeBron James when he makes “The Decision.”
There’s always this group of fans that want to make the argument ‘oh, he took the easy way out. He went and joined Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami.
Or (in Durant’s place) he went and joined a team that had just beat him in the (NBA) playoffs.’
… But I think an underlying reason for the reaction to Kevin and LeBron making those decisions is because people were uncomfortable with powerful black men making a decision for themselves. I really believe that.”
Redick noted those issues go back to “systemic racism in our society.”
As you may remember, LeBron’s decision caused the city of Cleveland to burn his jerseys, tear down billboards, and show hatred towards him when he played against the Cavs.
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Durant was heavily criticized by his peers, former teammates, as well as fans for joining a team that knocked him out of the postseason just a month before.
