LeBron James bemoaned the unfair narratives surrounding trades and free agency as he highlighted the double standards players deal with in the NBA after Blake Griffin was traded to the Pistons by the Clippers.
Star forward Griffin, 28, was stunned when he was dealt to the Pistons Monday, having been drafted with the number one pick by the Clippers in 2009.
Cleveland Cavaliers superstar and three-time NBA champion James is no stranger to moving around in the league after leaving Ohio for the Heat in 2010 before returning in 2014.
James – speaking prior to Cleveland's 125-114 loss to the Pistons – shared his thoughts on the harsh criticism players receive when they choose to leave a franchise, compared to when teams opt to trade those same men away.
"He spent his last nine years there," James said Tuesday. "He signed a multi-year deal there this summer, so that's unfortunate. But that's the business side of it. It's both sides. It works both sides, though. It's the business."
"When a player gets traded, it's they were doing what's best for the franchise," James added. "But when a player decides to leave, it's, 'He's not loyal. He's a snake. He's not committed.'
"It's just, that's the narrative of how it goes. So I'm definitely [aware]. I know that firsthand."
