NBA fans directed boos and sharp criticism toward LeBron James during his recent return to Cleveland, urging him to retire after a statistically poor outing against his former team, the Cavaliers. The Philadelphia 76ers suffered a 119-95 loss in an NBA Cup group stage game on Friday night.
James, 41, played his first game in Cleveland since joining the 76ers. He recorded only eight points on 3-of-12 shooting from the field, adding seven rebounds, three assists, and six turnovers in 32 minutes. This marked one of the fewest double-digit scoring games in his extensive career, which spans 1,630 games.
Social media platforms buzzed with reactions to James's performance. Many users expressed disappointment, with one calling it "embarrassing" and another stating, "Get LeBron off the court this is so embarrassing." Some took a harsher stance, questioning his legacy and suggesting he should retire, with one post claiming, "Is LeBron the biggest con artist in the NBA?... Retire already - it is laughable how people think he comes close to MJ."
Initially, James received a warm welcome from the Cleveland crowd. However, as the game progressed, the sentiment shifted, and boos reportedly rained down from the stands whenever he possessed the ball on offense. One observer noted the surprising shift, comparing it to "the Bulls booing Michael Jordan."
Before this game, James had been having a strong start to the season with the 76ers, helping them to an 8-1 record. He was averaging 15.7 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. This season is widely anticipated to be his final in the league.