Phil Jackson recently called out LeBron James, saying he "likes special treatment" and travels with a "posse."
According to Jackson, that attitude created a rift between James and the Miami Heat, before the superstar returned to the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2014 free agency. The New York Knicks president cited an example involving James' desire to spend a night in his hometown during the season.
"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," Jackson told Jackie MacMullan of ESPN.
"So now (coach Erik) Spoelstra has to text (Heat president Pat) 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."
James' business manager, Maverick Carter, took exception to Jackson's choice of words in describing him:
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
