The Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks will both finish well shy of the NBA playoffs in 2026, but the Bucks social-media team was able to smile through it all after a 131-115 win vs. Memphis on April 5.
The Bucks’ moment of levity lightly shaded comments by Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who earlier in the week had identified Milwaukee and Memphis as his two least-favorite places to play.
The Bucks responded with, “Won the matchup between everyone’s two favorite cities.”
“There’s two cities I do not like playing in right now, and that’s Milwaukee and that’s Memphis,” James said April 4 when asked about his previous comments about Memphis. “I don’t like going home either … and I’m from there.”
“I’m not talking about the city like the people in Memphis,” he added.
James had initially suggested on a YouTube show called “Bob Does Sports” that Memphis should relocate to Nashville, prompting The Athletic’s Law Murray to follow up, at which point James replied that he hadn’t focused on solely Memphis and also disparaged Milwaukee.
In his initial comments on the show, James said, “A random [expletive] Tuesday in Milwaukee. Staying at the [expletive] Hyatt at 41 years old. You think I want to do that [expletive]? Being in Memphis on a [expletive] random-ass Thursday?”
Milwaukee, of course, also has the Pfister Hotel, although it’s haunted. The Hyatt is also connected to Milwaukee’s newly revamped convention center that … well, it was good enough for a major-party convention prior to the 2024 election. Perhaps the NBA is waiting for James to retire before it awards Milwaukee an All-Star Game.
Citizens of Memphis didn’t take kindly to the original dig, with mayor Paul Young inviting James to the city.
Bucks coach Doc Rivers spoke about James’ comments before the game.
“The way I read the Milwaukee thing – he didn’t take a shot at the city. He took a shot at the hotels,” Rivers said with a laugh. “That’s how I read it unless he said more about the city. [It was] more about where he was staying. So let’s build a Four Seasons or a Ritz Carlton, I guess. I don’t know.
“But he cannot be talking about the city. I’ve lived here twice, and [how] this city has progressed from when I was in college [at Marquette] to now is night and day. So, I think we should trade for him. That would be my answer. And let him see Milwaukee, and I think he would change his tune.”
James hasn’t suited up for his team’s game in Milwaukee the past three seasons, last playing Dec. 2, 2022, although he’s presumably traveled with the team in other instances. He has played in only three games inside Fiserv Forum.
(This story was been updated to change a headline.)
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks try to get last laugh on LeBron comments after win vs. Memphis
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
