Shared Dislike for LeBron James
Craig Carton and Michael Rapaport have more in common than just being enthusiastic New York Knicks fans. They share a significant dislike for LeBron James. This sentiment was highlighted during the premiere of OutKick’s “The Craig Carton Show” on Tuesday. Rapaport expressed his complicated feelings for James, describing him as a player he loves to hate. Carton acknowledged his respect for James’ skills but explained that his dislike originated from an off-court event in 2017.
“I’ll tell you the number one reason I’m not a LeBron guy. There’s a clear-cut number one for me,” Carton stated during the show’s premiere. “Years ago, he was in Cleveland, and our country was grappling with racial issues.”
2017 Incident and Carton’s View
Carton’s dislike for James stems from an incident in 2017 when vandals spray-painted racial slurs on the gate of James’ $20 million Brentwood home. The Associated Press reported that the police confirmed the vandalism occurred early in the morning and that no arrests were made. Carton believes this incident was fabricated by James to engage in national racial conversations.
“To me, there are real racial issues in our country. For someone like him to invent something for attention, that’s unforgivable,” Carton said. “No one talks about it anymore because it didn’t happen.”
Rapaport’s Personal Grievance
Rapaport’s disdain for James is personal. He recounted an encounter during which James refused a photo with Rapaport’s children, then five and seven years old. This incident changed Rapaport’s view of James, despite having never spoken negatively about him before.
“I don’t know why he acted like that towards me,” Rapaport noted. “I brought my little kids, and he brushed them off. After that, I was done with him.”
The Future
With James joining the Philadelphia 76ers, Carton and Rapaport, both Knicks fans, will see more of him this season. The 76ers will play their first game against the defending champions at Madison Square Garden. Carton’s show, which launched on September 8, promises appearances by notable guests discussing sports and global events.
For more information on OutKick sports coverage, visit their website. The Craig Carton Show is available for download, providing unfiltered and unapologetic content.