LeBron James supports Denzel Washington rant aimed at today’s sports media personalities, highlighting growing frustration among athletes about the state of sports commentary. Recently, Denzel Washington, during an interview with Sports Illustrated, passionately criticized the rise of opinion-driven and often uninformed sports media figures, a sentiment that resonates with many players, including James.
The veteran actor, known for his Oscar-winning roles, spoke out while promoting his new film with Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest. What began as a discussion about the movie quickly turned into Washington’s pointed critique of sports commentators who prioritize loud opinions over meaningful analysis.
Washington Challenges the Credibility of Sports Talk Figures
Washington singled out many media personalities for expressing strong opinions despite lacking firsthand experience in the sports they cover. He expressed his disgust with what he called “opinionnaires”—people who talk boldly but have not earned the accomplishments they criticize.
“Everybody’s got an opinion. We live in a world of opinionnaires. That’s what I call them, opinionnaires,”
Washington said.
“All the shows are a bunch of guys, couple of them that have played but most of them who haven’t who have an opinion about what something should be when they haven’t done it.”
The Training Day star emphasized the need for commentators to back up their opinions with genuine expertise or to stop criticizing altogether.
“People need to shut up. Learn how to do something. Be actually good at something. Try that,”
he urged.
The Impact of Media Noise on Players and Fans
Washington’s frustrations echo the growing discontent among NBA players with how sports media operate today. Rather than focusing on the game itself, many media personalities create drama for clicks and attention. James’ Instagram liking of Washington’s critique, mirrored by NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett, signals player alignment with this perspective.
One recent example of media distractions overshadowing major basketball achievements was the focus on a public dispute between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James at the close of the 2024/25 NBA season, rather than on the Oklahoma City Thunder winning the championship.
LeBron James has openly criticized this trend during high-profile events such as the NBA Finals. Speaking on the podcast Mind The Game, James highlighted how the media used to elevate the sport but now often spreads misinformation with little accountability.
“It’s just, ‘what can I say without truth or without knowledge’ or ‘this is what I want to say’ and there’s no accountability behind it. That now goes to our fans,”
James stated.
“We have to protect our players and protect our product, and also bring awareness. I think our game is also about storytelling.”
From Respectful Reporting to Sensationalism: A Forsaken Tradition
Historically, sports journalism was revered for thoughtful insights and respect for the games and athletes it covered. Stuart Scott was admired for his authentic dedication and analysis, a standard many argue has been lost in today’s increasingly sensationalist media environment.
While voices like Washington’s bring some hope of change through their passionate calls for respect and truth, the current landscape of sports media shows little sign of reversing its trajectory toward click-driven content and unchecked opinions.
Washington’s new film, Highest 2 Lowest, which hits theaters on August 15, may provide more opportunities for this conversation to gain public attention as players and fans alike seek to reclaim deeper meaning in sports coverage.