New Yorkers weren’t bowing down for King James.
LeBron Jamesmade his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers in a highly anticipated game against the reigning champions, the New York Knicks, on Tuesday, October 20, there was plenty of trash-talking from the crowd at Madison Square Garden.
In one tense moment caught on camera, James, 41, appeared to clap back at fans during the second quarter, per the New York Post.
“Ain’t nothing soft in the Midwest. I don’t know what the [expletive] you talking about,” the Akron, Ohio, native snapped, according to the outlet, citing video posted on X.
“I’m not from the West Coast. I’m from Ohio, baby. I’m not a Midwest kid, I’m an Ohio baby. [Expletive] is you talking about,” the former LA Lakers player continued, before putting his mouthguard back in and returning to the game.
The argument seemed to stem from a fan heckling him for living in New York City and commuting to Philadelphia via helicopter, commentator Mike Tirico pointed out, per the Post.
“Guess who’s playing peacemaker? Spike Lee,” fellow broadcaster and retired NBA star Reggie Miller said during the broadcast, per the Post. “He’s over here playing peacemaker. Boy, I’ve seen everything.”
The Athletic reporter Mike Vorkunov elaborated in an X post that “things got lively enough” that director, in an orange-and-blue striped suit and matching hat, “stood up to try to calm things down and wave the fan off.”
But at least one New Yorker welcomed James with open arms. Another fan posted a video of Denzel Washington walking across the court to give him a big hug.
The 76ers beat the Knicks 106-100.
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