‘Fatherless’ LeBron James’ legacy shaped by media left him angry and bitter, says Jason Whitlock

Jason Whitlock believes Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is a victim of the narrative created by members of the media.

‘Fatherless’ LeBron James’ legacy shaped by media left him angry and bitter, says Jason Whitlock

Jason Whitlock and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James

LeBron James has navigated twenty-two seasons in the NBA after coming into the league with a never-before-seen hype. After all this time, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is firmly one of the all-time greats and has built a legacy that others have not achieved.

His twenty-two seasons of consistently great basketball is the single largest part of his legacy. Along with that, LeBron James has a reputation as a complete family man and also building a billion-dollar empire, becoming the first active athlete to do so.

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He is now locked in the GOAT debate alongside Michael Jordan and will possibly retire as one of the most influential athletes to ever roam the earth. However, off late, the narrative surrounding him has been that of a superstar who cannot take criticism, which led Jason Whitlock to bring up a theory.

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LeBron played with great joy. He was not this angry person that he has become later in his career. The person who confronted Stephen A. Smith on the sidelines, that is not who LeBron James was. How did he become this angry, bitter man that we see today? He was raised in a matriarchal culture and household, he doesn’t know his father.

Jason Whitlock said

The journalist believes due to a lack of a father figure in his life, LeBron James did not get the direction he needed when the likes of Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless started a narrative around him. That lack of a parental figure has ended up making the Los Angeles Lakers superstar bitter.

Jason Whitlock has another example of LeBron James’ struggles without a father

One can tie LeBron James’ bitter attitude and whining to the constant pressure to perform. However, Jason Whitlock believes the lack of a father figure has affected other areas of the Lakers star’s life. Something that has had an impact on his legacy.

Tiger Woods was not going to be defined by Jack Nicklaus. When Nike tried racializing Tiger, he wouldn’t have it. Tiger stood on the firm, solid ground of truth because he had a father. LeBron James’s image has been shaped by television and by desperate men using him to further their own careers.

Jason Whitlock said

The journalist added that Tiger Woods‘ father, Earl Woods, helped shape his son’s legacy. Woods junior therefore chose not to be defined by the legacy of other golfing greats or by companies looking after their own interests.

That is a stark contrast to what LeBron James has faced. Whitlock believes he likes of Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith have built their careers based off the Lakers superstar. They are responsible for constantly comparing James to Michael Jordan and creating the GOAT debate.

Whitlock believes had James had a father to advise him, this may not have happened. The 40-year-old would have created his own legacy and could have deflected the comparisons with Jordan. That way, he would have been his own man. At the same time, he would not have been this bitter.