In the Bleachers

Jay Z Subs Knicks GM Phil Jackson Over LeBron James “Posse” Comment

There was a time when business mogul Jay Z and Cleveland Cavs forward LeBron James were extremely close. Some speculated the relationship became strained when LeBron bypassed the Brooklyn Nets for Miami in NBA free agency.

If there was any break in the friendship, that wasn’t apparent when Jay presented LeBron with the Sports Illustrated’s “Sportsperson Of The Year” award. In his speech, Jay took shots at Phil Jackson following the Knicks’ GM’s “posse” comments last month

“He’s a dedicated family man who married his high school sweetheart Savannah. Has three lovely children. He’s the son who honors and worships his mother Gloria. The friend who put his “posse” in position. We know where we come from. We do understand where we come from, and the only difference between us and someone who has their MBA from Wharton or Sloan or Berkeley or Stanford is opportunity. LeBron James has provided his friends with that opportunity. And as we witness their development, and if we’re looking up at the scoreboard, very few businessmen are better than Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, Randy Mims, and all the rest of the posse behind the scenes that make it look like they’re just hanging out.”

“LeBron James has made all of those around him better on and off the court. We acknowledge and recognize all he has done for the game. But, tonight we say thank you. Not just for your commitment to basketball, but for all you’ve done for the community. And thank you for how you’ve enriched the lives of all those around you. We messed around and got a triple-double in real life.”

Jill Munroe

Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-based host, producer, and writer. You can find her work on sites such as FoxSports.com, EURweb.com, and MSN.com. Munroe is a current member of the African-American Film Critics Association and the National Association of Black Journalists. Munroe has also been a frequent guest on ESPN radio and Yahoo Sports. In 2015, Munroe released her first book, "PostGame Pass: access into "the life" JillMunroe.com