LeBron, Coach Get Into Shouting Match Steps Away From Court

As the Lakers were closing out the half in an eventual home win against the Timberwolves, LeBron James and assistant coach Phil Handy got into a heated exchange. Apparently, James was upset that Handy was talking to Avery Bradley, whom LeBron claimed was open during the final play.

Handy, according to Twitter, told LeBron that Bradley spoke to him first. What a bizarre argument. Watch:

LeBron and Phil Handy having a talkpic.twitter.com/RjOR9s0d6F

— Italo Santana (@BulletClubIta) January 3, 2022

Phil Handy is a well-respected coach in this league, and it’s likely that LeBron and him argue often because they have both paid their dues. Doesn’t mean they don’t get along. It probably says more about their competitive nature from their own decorated careers than anything else.

Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson argued weekly, whether about implementing the triangle offense or allowing other teammates to take the final shot. The point is that LeBron and Handy have major egos that’ll clash from time to time, and the last thing you want to do when a pass-first point guard sees an open shooter is start a dialogue with said shooter.

This was a weird one for sure.