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Ric Bucher was really on one recently, guys. The longtime NBA writer — who has been known to drop opinionated hot takes the past few years rather than actual insider info — went on a wild rant accusing Lakers star LeBron James of using excuses to hide the fact that he doesn’t actually want the NBA season to resume. The league is currently postponed due to the ongoing pandemic.
James has said recent weeks that he wouldn’t play basketball games in empty arenas because he thrives off of fan emotions and support. However, he backtracked on that stance after seeing the severity of the virus and how things are being handled in order to prevent it from spreading.
But Ric Bucher isn’t buying it, because, during a segment on Speak For Yourself, he blasted James, claiming the four-time NBA champ is secretly hoping that the rest of the season gets cancelled and the NBA Playoffs don’t happen, adding it’s the 35-year-old James’ way of all but admitting he’s just getting old. It’s all random and wild AF, so take a look for yourself at the rant from Bucher below.
LeBron doesn’t really want to finish this season.
"The desire to play in front of fans is really a cover for, I don’t want to play these playoffs when I know I’m going to be at a disadvantage." — @RicBucher pic.twitter.com/NB9Y3DQf8a
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) March 31, 2020
Look, it’s a fact that LeBron has a lot of mileage on his body after going to eight-straight NBA Finals’ from 2010-18, but Ric Bucher’s claim comes across as absolutely asinine. Why? Here are five simple reasons:
- The Lakers currently have the best record in the Western Conference and were all but sure to solidify homecourt advantage through the NBA Playoffs before the season was suspended.
- LeBron is having an MVP-caliber season, and, at 35 years old, is still doing things he was doing five years ago.
- This might be the last chance James has at winning a ring. His team is meshing. His body is holding up. He’s got Anthony Davis alongside him for this year — and the All-Star big man has already said he plans to test free agency, so he may not be back next season.
- James lives and sleeps basketball, so to think he’d actually use an excuse to want the NBA season to be cancelled is pretty far-fetched.
- It’s Ric Bucher saying this stuff, so, c’mon, do you really think he’s not just digging deep AF to try and get attention while all sports are on a hiatus?
After hearing what Bucher claimed about James on Speak For Yourself, plenty of people on Twitter went in on the guy, basically accusing him of absolutely losing his mind.
Damn Ric used to be a journalist, now he straight up wants to be Skip Bayless 2.0 lol
— Ray Ray (@RidersofeastRay) March 31, 2020
— Femi Okubadejo (@FemiOkubadejo) March 31, 2020
this is personal basically disrespecting lebron’s drive and hunger to compete. Bucher had to have gotten snubbed or slighted by lebron in person and I believe that is where his bias ness is rooted.
— 1nation (@pickem_sports) March 31, 2020
Ric. You not serious are you this is outlandish lol…like you said this on tv?
— Blick Cannon (@_Curvgotti) March 31, 2020
Man, Bucher’s getting (rightfully) dogged, because the whole thing just seems idiotic to sports fans everywhere. Without saying a word, Bucher’s co-host, Jason Whitlock, basically shows exactly what we’re all thinking: WTF?
Screengrab Twitter/
Something tells me Ric Bucher might regret even suggesting something like this, but, hey, such is the life of a talking sports head on TV who’s paid to stir up controversy.