All eyes were eagerly awaiting LeBron James’ press conference before the NBA All-Star Game. Fans, reporters, and players all were on the edge of their seats, anticipating the words of the Lakers superstar. But little did they know a twist was coming. “You won’t see anything from me tonight,” he said. With that, the hopes of seeing him team up with Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant were crushed. There was no easy pass as LeBron faced a fair share of criticism. However, instead of responding to his critics in the usual manner, he took a different approach — something only he could pull off.

How did he choose to respond? A series of Instagram stories. But these weren’t just any random posts. They were intimate, innocent moments with his daughter. In one adorable clip, little Zhuri was playing baseball with her father. Though the 40-year-old tried to trick her with some slick leg movements before pitching the ball, Zhuri kept her calm before confidently smacking the shot. She ran to complete the play, and just as LeBron prepared to throw the ball to tag her out, she smoothly slipped past the line. That certainly was a pro-move. The 10-year-old is not only mastering her primary sport volleyball but also trying her hands in baseball.

Besides the game, Zhuri also followed in her father’s footsteps as LeBron was exercising. While everyone knows how dedicated LeBron is to his workout routine, it is clear that his daughter is already following his lead. That too, doing it remarkably well. From pushups on dumbbells to balancing on gym balls, the father-daughter duo surely made the most of their time together.

LeBron also focused on his ankle, which kept him from participating in this year’s All-Star weekend. Rather than letting it hold him back, he put weight on it to improve its condition and make sure he’s ready to return to the Lakers squad. And as for the criticism, it’s just part of being LeBron James.

LeBron James gets selfish tag for All-Star Game snub

When LeBron announced he would be stepping down from the star-studded game, league officials were left with no time to find a replacement. The decision came at the last minute and had he informed them earlier, someone else might have had the chance to take his spot. But since that didn’t happen, Shannon Sharpe wasn’t about to let it slide. The ESPN analyst on First Take shocked everyone by calling the 4-time champion “selfish.” 

“LeBron in this situation was selfish, he knew he wasn’t going to play,” the former NFL star said. “And then instead of telling Adam Silver I am not going to play and allowing him to name a replacement, even if its not Norman (Powell). Even though I think he has earned that right considering how well he played. That’s what should have happened for me.” This surprised his colleague, Stephen A. Smith, who couldn’t be more proud of Sharpe for calling out LeBron.

In his defense, LeBron clarified, “I was hoping it would feel a lot better this morning, but it was not where I wanted it to be.” However, that didn’t work. Maybe the stories with Zhuri would cool off the NBA community a bit. But once the regular season games resume and LeBron gets back to leading the Lakers, people will likely shift their focus back to his performance. After all, when LeBron is playing at his best, that usually overshadows any other drama. What do you think? Will that be enough to quiet the critics? Let us know your thoughts!