“Nah, it wasn’t Kevin Durant. It was LeBron James going to Miami that ruined basketball!”: Former Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert opens up about his views on Lakers superstar’s infamous decision to switch to the Heat back in 2010
Former teammate Iman Shumpert puts shade on LeBron James for ruining the game of basketball with his infamous decision to move to Miami Heat.
Former NBA champion Iman Shumpert is one of the most outspoken basketball players out there. Shumpert recently talked very candidly about how LeBron James’ decision to join the Miami Heat ruined the game of basketball.
After getting frustrated with dragging the Cleveland Cavaliers through the Eastern Conference for 8 years, not getting any support from the management or front office, LeBron James took the matter into his hands. As a free agent, he joined the Miami Heat back in 2010.
And according to Shumpert, LeBron “ruined the game of basketball” by joining the Heat. The man has his notions on why he feels that way, and he talked about it on The Bootleg Kev podcast.
Iman Shumpert believes LeBron James ruined the game of basketball
Whether you appreciate it or not, LeBron James sure did change the dynamic of the NBA with his infamous decision. He showed the way one can dictate their free agency however they want to. But Shumpert believes otherwise. When the host of the show Kev suggested that Kevin Durant’s move to the Warriors started it all, Iman interrupted,
“Nah, it wasn’t KD,” Shumpert said.“It was Bron first going to Miami. Bron knows he ruined basketball. He thought he was making it better, I get it.. Me personally, I love the NBA for the loyalty that, I thought, was there. He basically knocked the fourth wall down. … He wasn’t supposed to do that.”
There are different ways to see it. Many retired veterans are still sick to their stomach, with how they were treated by the franchises with whom they were loyal for the largest part of their careers. Some keep loyalty above everything, but most of them who do are compensated in some or the other major way.
While LeBron came back to Cleveland Cavaliers again in 2014 free agency, Shumpert joined him there in 2015. He helped James win his first championship with the franchise that drafted him back in 2003. LeBron would later go on to join the LA Lakers in free agency and win another championship.
Shumpert continued, “Great business move for sure. But when you think about it outside looking in, I got people tweeting me, they’re literally talking about owners and trade.”
He even responded to some tweets.
— Iman. (@imanshumpert) December 21, 2021
— Iman. (@imanshumpert) December 21, 2021
Eh…they just did it. It didn’t become a craze…u know? But this was a cheat code 😂 tell K and Paul they cheated https://t.co/v1QIX57Q8o
— Iman. (@imanshumpert) December 21, 2021
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