Phil Jackson Uses Cryptic Retweet To Respond To LeBron James' 'Posse' Criticism
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Phil Jackson responded Wednesday -- sort of -- to LeBron James' accusation that the Knicks president used a racially charged term while discussing the Cavaliers superstar.
James took exception to Jackson's use of the word "posse" in a recent ESPN interview to describe the four-time NBA MVP's entourage.
Jackson said in the Q&A that while James was playing for the Miami Heat he wanted special treatment by spending the night in Cleveland after games against the Cavaliers. James is from nearby Akron, Ohio.
"They don't do overnights," Jackson said in the interview. "Teams just don't. So now (coach Erik) Spoelstra has to text (Heat president Pat) Riley and say, 'What do I do in this situation?' And Pat, who has iron-fist rules, answers, 'You are on the plane, you are with this team.' You can't hold up the whole team because you and your mom and your posse want to spend an extra night in Cleveland."
James said he lost all respect for Jackson after reading the comments.
"To use that label -- and if you go and read the definition of what the word 'posse' is, it's not what I've built over my career," James said. "It's not what I stand for. It's not what my family stands for. And I believe the only reason he used that word is because he sees young African-Americans trying to make a difference."
Jackson has not publicly discussed James' remarks, but on Wednesday he retweeted a post by his Knicks adviser, Clarence Gaines, about the nonprofit group The Posse Foundation, which sends talented high school students who may have otherwise been overlooked to top colleges. Many of those who benefit are minorities from low-income families.
"'@possefoundation is a worthy & positive organization," Gaines' tweet said.
'@possefoundation is a worthy & positive organization - https://t.co/dFpgN7F7EF
— Clarence Gaines (@ClarenceGaines2) November 15, 2016
On Tuesday, Knicks star Carmelo Anthony seemed to take the side of James, his good friend, over his boss.
"I wouldn't never want to hear that word about me," he told the New York Post. " ... I don't think you have to be a rocket scientist or educated person to know what that means to us."