LeBron James has had many rivals during his 22 years in the NBA. One of his most famous rivals is DeShawn Stevenson. Their rivalry started in 2008 because of a comment Stevenson made. This remark led to a strong feud between them that was visible both in games and in the news. The competition between LeBron and Stevenson became a big story, with fans and media following every moment of their interactions.
An Instagram account recently brought up that feud and shared a quote from James, saying the Washington Wizards couldn’t come back from a 3-1 deficit. They really couldn’t. LeBron responded to this on Instagram, saying, “Come at the King. You best not miss! By the way, I was 23 years old! Haha!“
The beef between them started in 2008 when Stevenson, who played for the Washington Wizards, called LeBron “overrated” after he missed a game-winning shot against the Wizards on March 13. This comment started a heated rivalry.
The Beginning Of LeBron James And DeShawn Stevenson’s Rivalry
In 2008, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Washington Wizards faced off in the playoffs for the third straight year. The Cavaliers, led by LeBron James, had won the previous two series and wanted to win again.
The 2008 series began with LeBron helping the Cavaliers take a 2-0 lead. Then, they moved to Washington for Game 3, where the rapper Soulja Boy showed up wearing a Stevenson jersey. In that game, the Wizards shocked the Cavaliers, winning 108-72, making fans think the series might be exciting.
However, LeBron James and the Cavaliers bounced back, winning Game 4 and taking a 3-1 lead. When asked if the Wizards could come back, LeBron laughed off the idea.
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Although the Wizards won Game 5, the Cavaliers finished the series in six games, much to LeBron’s joy as he wanted to send Stevenson home. During the series, LeBron even mocked Stevenson’s famous celebration, “I can’t feel my face,” showing there was serious tension between them.
Stevenson did get his revenge later as he was part of the Dallas Mavericks team that defeated LeBron’s Miami Heat in the 2011 NBA Finals. Years later, Stevenson looked back on the feud and said he regretted his actions, realizing he had acted immaturely.
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