Disrespectful: LeBron James showed love to AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith—Completely ignored ‘White Excellence’ in Cooper DeJean and Reed Blankenship

The Sixers hosted the Lakers in South Philly last night, and while Tyrese Maxey was busy torching Los Angeles for 43 points, there was a little side drama brewing courtside.

The Eagles were in the building, soaking in the win fresh off their 55-23 demolition of the Washington Commanders in the NFC Championship Game.

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During warmups, LeBron James made sure to dap up AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, showing love to two of the Eagles’ biggest stars. Respectable move. No complaints there.

LeBron James says “what up” to AJ and Smitty:

LeBron James met up with AJ Brown, Devonta Smith and other Eagles players before the 76ers Lakers game

🐐🐐🐐#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/fHHv9cFPTA

— The Philly Times 📰 (@the_phi_times) January 29, 2025

But here’s where things took a turn for the worse…

LeBron completely ignored Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean.

Unbelievable.

Listen, we all know LeBron James has a history of picking and choosing his moments when it comes to acknowledging certain players and teams. But to completely snub Reed Blankenship and Cooper DeJean?

Disrespectful.

LeBron James clearly doesn’t know about the “Exciting Whites.” I guess we can be happy to know that he won’t lie and say that Reed and Coop were ELITE after the Eagles win the Super Bowl. LeBron tends to, let’s say, stretch the truth on a variety of things so maybe the silver lining is that we avoided that disaster.

But seriously, has he not been briefed on the movement sweeping Philadelphia?

Does he not realize that Cooper DeJean could easily walk onto the Sixers roster right now and get legitimate playing time?

Cooper DeJean would put Bronny James in a BLENDER.

Highlights of new #Eagles DB Cooper DeJean piping on people in high school. pic.twitter.com/Me5EqBkKaC

— Adam Levitan (@adamlevitan) April 26, 2024

At least Reed Blankenship handled it like a true Philly guy. He barely flinched. Didn’t force it. Didn’t even attempt to extend a handshake. He had no interest in interacting with LeChina.

But Coop? Oh, brother.

You could see the hope in DeJean’s eyes. As LeBron approached, our guy started pulling his hand out of his pocket, thinking—just for a second—that maybe he was about to get acknowledged.

He did not.

It was brutal. It was heartbreaking. It was a learning moment and I think we can all be in agreement that it was nothing more than LeBron James negligence.

If LeBron doesn’t want to acknowledge “White Boy Winter” that’s totally fine. Here in Philadelphia, we appreciate “White Excellence” and our Eagles’ defensive secondary defying odds and breaking the “glass ceilings” of position stereotypes.

Maybe if LeBron knew better, the Lakers wouldn’t have gotten embarrassed by Tyrese Maxey and the ‘Process Sixers’ last night? I guess we’ll never know.

Tyrese Maxey drops 43, Sixers handle Lakers without Embiid and George

Put some respect on Cooper DeJean’s NAME.

Side Note: If LeBron James didn’t acknowledge this then ban him from the city.

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