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LeBron James would like a word with fans who accuse players of being selfish for seeking greener pastures in free agency.
James took to social media calling for a shift of the NBA narrative from tagging players who leave in free agency as selfish after the Dallas Mavericks traded Harrison Barnes during Wednesday’s game.
Barnes, 26, was on the court playing against the visiting Charlotte Hornets as reports surfaced that he was being dealt to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for forwards Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph. The trade was made official Thursday morning.
“So let me guess this is cool cause they had to do what was best for the franchise right???” James wrote via Instagram. “Traded this man while he was literally playing in the game and had ZERO idea. I’m not knocking who traded him because it’s a business and you have to do what you feel what’s best but I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE and not when a player wants to be traded or leaves a Franchise that he’s a selfish/ungrateful player but when they trade you, release , waive, cut etc etc it’s best for them! I’m ok with both honestly, truly am. Just call a ?? a ??!!”

 

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So let me guess this is cool cause they had to do what was best for the franchise right??? Traded this man while he was literally playing in the game and had ZERO idea. I’m not knocking who traded him because it’s a business and you have to do what you feel what’s best but I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE and not when a player wants to be traded or leaves a Franchise that he’s a selfish/ungrateful player but when they trade you, release , waive, cut etc etc it’s best for them! I’m ok with both honestly, truly am. Just call a ♠️ a ♠️!!

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on Feb 6, 2019 at 8:43pm PST

Barnes did not speak to the media at the American Airlines Center postgame, but offered a farewell via Instagram.
“Thank you to the entire Dallas Mavericks organization, @mcuban, Coach Carlisle, my teammates and all the #MFFLs (Mavs Fans For Life) who have made Dallas feel like home for the last 2.5 years. I will never forget how the incredible fans in this city held it down at AAC every game, win or lose. Excited for the next chapter @sacramentokings!!!!”
After scoring 10 points in 26 minutes of action, Barnes didn’t play in the fourth quarter but remained on the bench to support the Mavericks, who won 99-93.
Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said of the sequence, “He was informed by somebody else, but I caught him before anybody else and I wanted to speak to him directly. He and I spent a lot of time together, especially the first two years as he was developing his game.
“He’s a special guy. He’s about all the right things on the basketball court and in the community. He’s an example of what you want your kids to be. He’ll do great in his next destination and I’m proud of all the growth he experienced here.”
Mavericks veteran Dirk Nowitzki said of Barnes choosing to stay on the bench with his teammates, “He’s a better man than me for sure. Everybody else would have bounced. He’s just a genuinely good dude. He’s obviously got bonds with some of these players for life, and that’s just the kind of guy he is.”
–Field Level Media