LeBron's business partner calls out Phil Jackson for 'disrespectful language'
LeBron James’ longtime friend and business partner Maverick Carter took aim at Phil Jackson on Monday after the Knicks president used the term “posse” to label James’ camp.
"I don't care that he talks about LeBron," Carter told ESPN.com. "He could say he's not that good or the greatest in the world as a basketball player. I wouldn't care. It's the word 'posse' and the characterization I take offense to. If he would have said LeBron and his agent, LeBron and his business partners or LeBron and his friends, that's one thing. Yet because you're young and black, he can use that word. We're grown men."
Carter, James, Rich Paul and Randy Mims founded the management company LRMR in 2006. Carter, who was a high school teammate of James at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, has helped guide LeBron’s career.
Jackson categorized Carter and his associates as a “posse” when the Knicks exec was discussing James’ departure from the Heat and team president Pat Riley in the summer of 2014.
"It had to hurt when they lost LeBron," Jackson said. "That was definitely a slap in the face. But there were a lot of little things that came out of that. When LeBron was playing with the Heat, they went to Cleveland, and he wanted to spend the night. They don't do overnights. Teams just don't. So now [coach Erik] Spoelstra has to text Riley and say, 'What do I do in this situation?' And Pat, who has iron-fist rules, answers, 'You are on the plane. You are with this team.' You can't hold up the whole team because you and your mom and your posse want to spend an extra night in Cleveland.
"I always thought Pat had this really nice vibe with his guys. But something happened there where it broke down. I do know LeBron likes special treatment. He needs things his way."
Carter, who is in charge of handling James’ off-court interests in entertainment, took to Twitter to vent his frustrations regarding Jackson’s comments.
Paul is in charge of Klutch Sports, which represents James along with Cavs teammates Tristan Thompson and J.R. Smith. The agency also landed No. 1 pick Ben Simmons earlier this year.
All the hard work,effort and achievement and @PhilJackson11 still calls us a "posse"every step you take they remind you, you ghetto" @S_C_ pic.twitter.com/OPsPvAvFoM
— Maverick Carter (@mavcarter) November 14, 2016
Let me be clear I'm not saying @PhilJackson11 is racist,, I'm calling out his disrespectful language
— Maverick Carter (@mavcarter) November 15, 2016
