‘Asking For a Friend’: LeBron James’ Saudi Tweet Receives a Unique Backlash From a PGA Tour Star While LIV Golf Takes Center Stage

Saudi Arabia’s staggering attempts to turn its domestic soccer league into a star-studded one have already attracted the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Kante. Unwilling to stop at just these big names, Al-Hilal, a club in the Saudi Professional League, has now made a world-record bid for 24-year-old French forward Kylian Mbappe!

The total value of Mbappe’s package, which is understood to be $1.1 billion, has unsurprisingly sent ripples through the world. Even 4-time NBA MVP LeBron James couldn’t stop himself from chiming in with an iconic tweet. While James’ reaction was a harmless one, a PGA Tour pro’s take on his comments has incited a hot discourse in the golf community. Let’s jump in to find out more!

PGA Tour pro reacts as NBA star LeBron James jokes about Saudi move

Over the weekend, Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal submitted an astounding bid worth $332 million to Paris St.-Germain for Kylian Mbappe. If the deal were to go through, the World Cup-winning soccer star is also expected to pocket  $776 million for just a single season!

To further put this almost unimaginable amount into context, NBA legend LeBron James’ earnings over his entire 20-season career is $531 million, as per Front Office Sports! It, therefore, shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Los Angeles Lakers player expressed his interest in playing in Saudi Arabia. James’ tweet has now gained significant attention, with even PGA Tour’s Michael Kim chiming in.

Also Read: NBA World Blasts LeBron James for Copying Giannis in Subtle Admission of Jealousy to $770,000,000 Kylian Mbappe Deal: “Only Care About Making as Much Money as Possible”

Taking to Twitter, the 2018 John Deere Classic winner wrote, “Soooo…. Is it ok if Lebron does it but not ok if pro golfers do it? Asking for a friend lol.” Kim’s tweet references the sheer criticism that players like Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and more received for defecting to LIV Golf last year.

The 30-year-old golfer, however, stressed that it was a mere joke and he did not intend to join LIV. Despite its innocuous nature, Kim’s tweet has now managed to rile up golf fans, with many giving their two cents on Saudi Arabia buying into sports like golf and soccer!

Internet reacts as LIV Golf gets thrown into the mix as an aftermath of world-record Kylian Mbappe bid

Back in early June, the PGA Tour shocked the golf world by announcing its plan to merge with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf. The announcement not only brought an end to a year of dispute between the two golfing circuits but also proved once again the country’s growing ambitions in sports. After all, Saudi Arabia already hosts a Formula One race, WWE shows, and the world’s richest horse race. With its domestic league now targeting the biggest soccer stars in the world, many believe that it won’t be long before Saudi expands into American professional leagues like the NBA and NFL.

Meanwhile, one Twitter user seemed to suggest that 6-time major winner and LIV pro Phil Mickelson was right in his defense of the golfing league all this time.

Meanwhile, LIV’s Talor Gooch also reacted to LeBron James’ statementt. The most successful player on LIV this season, Gooch, shared a cryptic reaction to the now-viral tweet.

Some fans, on the other hand, were completely against the idea of NBA stars undergoing the same fate as LIV golfers.

LeBron James isn’t the only NBA star who has reacted to Al-Hilal’s bid for Kylian Mbappe. Draymond Greene and Giannis Antetokounmpo have also joked about wanting to sign with Saudi Arabian clubs down the road.

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Do you agree with Michael Kim’s tweet about LIV players receiving more harsh treatment than most? Let us know in the comments!