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LeBron James ‘Staring Down’ Hornets Owner Michael Jordan Forced Him into Big Public Clarification in 2014

Published 12/23/2022, 6:10 PM EST

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LeBron James‘ legendary status in the modern-era of NBA has put him in comparison with the legacy of Michael Jordan in the league. Jordan established himself as the most competitive and fierce player on the court, winning two three-peats for the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. Meanwhile, LeBron James has set a new precedent of greatness in the league, making him one of the greatest in league history. As a result, the GOAT discussion among Jordan and LeBron’s fans never seems to cease. Notably, LeBron James ‘staring down’ at Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan in 2014 caused a great deal of stir among NBA fans. In response, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was forced to provide a massive public clarification to calm things down.

James’ Cleveland Cavaliers faced the Jordan’s Hornets during the Round 1 of the Eastern Conference in 2014. During Game 3, James pulled off something peculiar that caught the eyes of the critics. His glare at the Bulls legend subjected him to controversy, resulting in a clarification.

LeBron James denied staring down at Michael Jordan 

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The Cavaliers led the Round 1 series against the Hornets by 2-0 as they went into Game 3. During the game, LeBron James appeared to ‘stare down’ Hornets owner Jordan, who sat on the Charlotte bench, right before slamming a fast-break dunk following a steal in the third quarter.

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However, LeBron James was forced to give a public justification. After the game, James was asked about his stare at Michael Jordan. As per The Charlotte Observer, LeBron James responded, “No, no. Don’t start that. Absolutely not, man. Absolutely not. I was able to read McRoberts, get a steal and push the lead back up. I absolutely didn’t look at MJ, for sure.”

The 18-time All-Star denied staring down at Michael Jordan and clarified that he was focused on scoring. Moreover, LeBron scored 30 points with ten rebounds and six assists in the game.

James’ stared down at Jordan

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With a little over seven and a half minutes left in the third quarter, LeBron James secured a steal after taking away the ball from Hornets forward Josh McRoberts. Immediately after, he dribbled quickly toward the other end of the court, just opposite the Charolette bench where Michael Jordan sat.

USA Today via Reuters

While making an attempt to put the ball right in the hoop during a flight, James momentarily turned towards Jordan and gave the Bulls legend a stare. James shifted his eyes back to the rim before making a dunk to take the scoreline to 68-49. 

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WATCH THIS STORY – Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Charles Barkley, And Other NBA Stars Who Have Endorsed Video Games

At last, the game eventually ended with the Cavaliers defeating the Hornets by 115-107 to take a 3-0 lead in the series.

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Written by:

Rohit Kumawat

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Rohit Kumawat is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing an MBA in Media and Business Management, Rohit holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. He has been working as a Sports and Entertainment writer for over a year.
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Edited by:

Jayant Chhabra