Remember when LeBron James caused a stir on social media by unfollowing former teammate and analyst, Kendrick Perkins, a few months back? That was after Perks criticized LeBron for involving him in Kyrie Irving’s playoff story with the Mavs. Some had asked whether this was petty. Let’s jog your memory a bit further. Remember LeBron posted a picture of him at the Golden 1 Center in 2022? At first glance, nothing was out of the ordinary, but keen eyes spotted how LeBron crossed out ‘S’ from ‘KINGS’ written on a section of the stands. Several people again wondered whether this was a petty act. Regardless, LeBron has once again found himself entangled in a similar conversation.

LeBron gave a shout-out to Caitlin Clark after her historic performance against the Chicago Sky. The shoutout was perceived as part of a grand scheme and led to more ‘petty’ jibes. Is LeBron only being ‘Petty’ by supporting Clark publicly or are there occasions when the WNBA rookie offended him? Here, we look at 3 instances when Reese got on the King’s bad side.

Angel Reese took a massive dig at LeBron James

The 2021 playoffs were a forgettable one for the Lakers. The Suns brushed them aside in 6, giving LeBron James and Co. an early vacation. A fan argued that if LeBron received more support from his teammates, the result would’ve been different. Angel Reese retweeted it and wrote, “no LEBRON WAS NO HELP. 😂” That’s the last thing someone needs to say to get on the bad side of LeBron. The 39-year-old did not respond to Reese’s remarks publicly but his latest tweet could indicate otherwise.

Angel Reese reacted to LeBron James’ Caitlin Clark praise

Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark’s rivalry changed platforms after the 2024 WNBA Draft as the duo brought their A-game from the NCAA. The league saw a major spike in viewership and the buzz surrounding it was unlike anything before. Talking about it, Angel Reese credited herself for the spotlight the WNBA is getting. During a post-game interview, she said, “It’s not because of just one person, it’s because of me too and I want y’all to realize that.”

This came after LeBron James credited Clark for the boom in the women’s game. During an episode of his Mind the Game podcast, LBJ said, “Don’t get it twisted, don’t get it f–ed up. Caitlin Clark is the reason why a lot of great things is gonna happen for the WNBA.” That jibe back certainly reached the 4-time NBA champion and we can only imagine what went through his mind.

Angel Reese participates in Bronny James’ slandering

This one had Angel Reese’s least input, but it’s a proper example of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. During the Celtics’ summer league game against the Lakers in July, Jaylen Brown was spotted taking a front-row seat with girlfriend Kysre Gondrezick and Angel Reese. The NBA champion allegedly said, “I don’t think Bronny is a pro,” as deduced by the lip readers online.

After the footage went viral, JB had to clarify the mess and tweeted, “It’s a flex to have your son alongside you in the NBA it reflects greatness and longevity ! Bronny has all the tools around him to be successful I look forward to watching his growth”. Reese didn’t have much input in what JB said but her presence at the supposed ‘crime’ scene was enough to put her in a bad light from LeBron’s perspective.

So are all the Caitlin Clark props just a way for LeBron to dismiss his acknowledgment of Reese for the past digs? The definite answer to that depends on one’s perspective of things. But LeBron siding with CC can have a simple explanation – “Game recognizes game”.