LeBron James and Maverick Carter Play the Race Card Post-Decision

With training camps across the NBA heating up, the circus that will be coverage of the Miami Heat has provided us all with the first of likely many news items to come from LeBron James’ new team. 

Per James, the backlash of his Decision to “take his talents to South Beach” has nothing to do with the lack of a title.  Nothing to do with the way in which James went on national television to leave Cleveland in the rear view mirror.  And nothing to do with the way he seemingly bowed out of the playoff series against the Boston Celtics.  It has to do with the fact that he’s an Afican-American male.

Both James and his friend/business manager told CNN, when asked, that race played a factor in how the two-time MVP has been treated since he left Cleveland.

“I think so at times,” James said. “It’s always, you know, a race factor.”

“It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media,” said Carter. “Things that were written. For sure.”

The media backlash against James is well-documented.  From national sports columnists to television’s talking heads, James’ Decision drew more negative reviews than positive.  Many players came to James’ defense, saying that “he had to do what was best for he and his family,” but the way in which the Decision was made continues to be the still-burning coal among many.

Carter has been taking the media’s lashing almost as much as James, as some claim that the NBA star would be better off not listening to his 28-year old friend and business manager.  Yahoo!’s Adrian Wojnarowski has been one of the more vocal anti-Carter columnists, calling Carter “James’ bumbling buddy.”  For what it is worth, Carter admits that the execution of the ESPN special (called “the worst idea in the history of marketing”) could have been better.  How the LRMR executive feels he would have done things differently, however, remains to be answered as he continues to focus more on the donations made to the Boys and Girls Club.

When asked about LeBron James’ infamous “mental notes,” Carter claims that James will be using all of the negativity to fuel his desire to win in Miami – calling the fuel “super-duper premium.”

“The decision he made to go play for the Miami Heat, that’s it,” said Carter. “That’s where he’s going to play, so that’s not going to change anytime soon. He’s going to go play there. And you know, hopefully their team will do great.”