Defending LeBron, and hanging with Kobe

One was criticized for not being friendly, respectful and humble enough to his opponents after a playoff series loss.
That would be Cleveland Cavalier superstar LeBron James, who failed to shake hands with and congratulate members of the Orlando Magic after their NBA Eastern Conference victory.
Another has been criticized – on at least one Salt Lake City radio station – for being too friendly with an opponent during their own playoff series.
That would be Jazz star Deron Williams, who along with teammate Carlos Boozer has been knocked on the airwaves for their postgame interaction with Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant at the Staples Center in the midst of a first-round series eventually won by L.A.
Earlier this week, Williams addressed and defended the action – or inaction, as the case may be – by James.
“I always make it a point to (shake hands). That’s just me,” he said.
“You know, I could see where LeBron’s coming from. I’m sure he’s not the first person who walked off the court without shaking somebody’s hand,” Williams added. “It’s just because of who he is it’s getting blown out of proportion. That’s just what he did. I think it will blow over in a couple days and nobody will remember it, to tell you the truth.”
Moments later, the Jazz point guard addressed – and defended – his own behavior.
“Kobe was our teammate on the Olympic team,” Williams said of he and Boozer, who along with Bryant helped Team USA win gold at last year’s Summer Games in China.
“His kids were right there,” he added. “I hadn’t seen his kids since the Olympics, so I went up to say hello to his wife and his kids. That was the extent of it.”
Blown out of proportion, in other words.
But bound to blow over in a couple days? Time, and the radio, will tell.

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