LeBron James Draws Scrutiny Over Off‑Court Controversies

LeBron James has been at the center of several off-court controversies: a passage in Yaron Weitzman’s new book reports that Russell Westbrook called James “fake,” a claim some commentators, including Richard Jefferson, have urged caution about because it rests on an unnamed source. James drew criticism for teasing “The Second Decision,” which turned into a Hennessy ad that veterans such as Lou Williams called poor optics given James’s young fanbase and the memory of his 2010 special. The ad and other unverified allegations attracted extra scrutiny while James was sidelined by sciatica and missed the season opener. A long-running feud with Stephen A. Smith has intensified after Smith criticized Bronny, said he was confronted at a Lakers game, and told Carmelo Anthony he “doesn’t like” James while accusing him of working against him privately. Together, unverified claims, marketing missteps and personal disputes have kept James in the headlines as he works to return to the court.