Pero Antic has revived his long-standing criticisms of LeBron James during a recent appearance on the Jao Mile Podcast. The ex-NBA player and three-time Euroleague champion expressed his disdain for the way James is compared to NBA legends Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. "I can't watch the NBA anymore," Antic stated, adding that he sees James as someone who is overly dramatic and often flops during games.
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Antic recalled their history, which dates back to the 2015 Eastern Conference Finals when he was involved in a notable hard foul against James. His earlier negative perceptions of James have not changed over the years, as he explained that the NBA’s current atmosphere reflects poorly on the game.
He singled out two key moments from James' career that he found particularly problematic: James' pursuit of the all-time scoring title and his desire to play alongside his son, Bronny James. Antic views James' approach to breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s scoring record in 2023 as a strategic move that diminished the achievement's authenticity. Furthermore, he criticized the narrative surrounding James playing with his son, suggesting it portrays the league as being molded to fit his personal wishes.
Having faced James nine times during his brief NBA career, Antic’s insights are informed by firsthand experience. His tenure in the NBA was brief, spanning two seasons with the Atlanta Hawks. After that, Antic moved to a successful career in Europe, winning multiple championships, including a third Euroleague title in 2017. Meanwhile, LeBron James is set to begin his 24th NBA season with the Philadelphia 76ers.