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LeBron James Stands by Memphis, Milwaukee Remarks as Backlash Builds

The backlash shows how hotel gripes can collide with civic pride in a majority-Black city.

Overview

  • James, whose Thursday Bob Does Sports clip urged the Grizzlies to move to Nashville, also knocked Memphis as a road stop he tries to avoid.
  • He told reporters Saturday that he would not walk it back, saying his issue is travel and hotels like the Hyatt Centric rather than residents or culture.
  • The Bucks’ social team took a shot Sunday after beating the Grizzlies, posting that they “won the matchup between everyone’s two favorite cities.”
  • Former teammate Kendrick Perkins criticized the relocation line as dismissive of Black Memphians and called it a contradiction with James’ public advocacy.
  • Memphis Mayor Paul Young invited James to visit and see the city firsthand, reflecting a civic push to defend the team’s role in local identity and economics.