Stern to Lecture LeBron

by Marcel Mutoni

Has a refusal to shake an opponent’s hand ever generated this much interest, controversy, and self-righteousness before? Well, yes, actually … never mind.

Things have gotten so out of hand this time around, that David Stern was forced to address LeBron James’s decision not to stick around and immediately address his team’s elimination from the postseason following Game 6 of the ECF.

According to the Commish, he was not pleased with what he saw, and plans to let James hear all about it.

From ESPN:

“I’m in the process of making a phone call or two now to talk to LeBron … so I don’t want to speak to that at this moment,” Stern said.

“So you’re not happy?” [radio personality Colin Cowherd] asked. “I think that’s fair to say,” Stern replied.

When further asked about James’ storming off the court without postgame handshakes with the Magic — and whether one action was more troubling than the other — Stern said both were important. “One goes to rules, another goes to values,” he said. “I think both of them should be followed.”

Man, to be a fly on the wall during that chat.

I just hope that LeBron lets the call go straight to voicemail a few times, just to irritate Stern some more.