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🏀 LeBron & CP3 Call Out The NBA

🏀 LeBron & CP3 Call Out The NBA

Chris Lesiak
September 16, 2022

Donovan Mitchell denies Rudy Gobert trade demand, LeBron and Chris Paul call out NBA over Robert Sarver's punishment, and Shaq calls Dennis Rodman his worst teammate ever.

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DONOVAN MITCHELL

Donovan Mitchell Denies Rudy Gobert Trade Demand

Donovan Mitchell recently sat down for an interview with ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and shared his side of the story regarding how things went down in Utah, as well as his thoughts on Danny Ainge’s recent statement.

Michell said: "I don't think we didn't believe [in each other]" before going on to dispute him wanting Rudy Gobert traded. At the end of the season, Mitchell said he told Ainge: "don't trade [Rudy Gobert]. Let's figure this out, let's do. And that didn't happen.”

Mitchell also revealed that, like almost everyone else, he felt he would be traded to the Knicks and was surprised when it didn’t happen. However, Mitchell was quick to express how thrilled he was to find out he was traded to Cleveland, especially considering how much of the exciting, young Cavaliers core was still on the roster.

LEBRON JAMES & CHRIS PAUL

LeBron and Chris Paul Call Out NBA Over Robert Sarver's Punishment

Phoenix Suns owner Robert Sarver’s nearly year-long investigation has ended, and many NBA players and media feel the punishment is insufficient. The NBA found Sarver guilty of indefensible conduct, but because they determined his actions were not "motivated by racial or gender-based animus," he escaped harsher sanctions. Sarver will not be forced to sell the team and has only been suspended for one year and fined $10 million.

Lebron James and Chris Paul both took to Twitter to express their disappointment. James said: “Our league definitely got this wrong… There is no place for misogyny, sexism, and racism in any work place. Don't matter if you own the team or play for the team. We hold our league up as an example of our values and this aint it."

Chris Paul, who currently plays for Sarver’s Suns, had this to say: “like many others, I reviewed the report. I was and am horrified and disappointed by what I read. This conduct especially towards women is unacceptable and must never be repeated.”

While this situation is thematically reminiscent of the Donald Sterling scandal, the fact that, unlike Sterling, there is no audio or visual evidence of Sarver’s wrongdoings appears to have played a part in not forcing a sale.

SHAQ

Shaq Calls Dennis Rodman His Worst Teammate Ever

Despite only playing one year together and only 23 games at that, Shaq name-dropped Dennis Rodman as his worst teammate. During an episode of The Big Podcast with Shaq, O'Neal praised Rodman’s game but spoke about his difficult persona.

Shaq said: "Worst teammate? Dennis Rodman, he was a great player, but he made it hard. Like when you try to corral the guys together and the people above you [are] letting this one guy do whatever he wants. So we had to be there an hour before the game. He'd come in fifteen minutes before the game eating chicken and rice. While the coaches are talking, he would jump in the shower. Cold shower. Come and give you 15-20 rebounds."

Rodman has always had a larger-than-life persona, so Shaq’s declaration isn't exactly a shock. It probably didn't help Rodman's case that he was at the tail-end of his career when he became a Laker, meaning that the Lakers got the full-quirky Rodman experience without the on-court production of old.