Syracuse legend Jim Boeheim is still bitter about losing his top recruit.
Just days after former recruit Darius Bazley announced his $1 million shoe internship with New Balance, Boeheim bizarrely had choice words for Lakers star LeBron James, who shares the same agent as Bazley.
“LeBron did a nice job helping his client,” Boeheim said about Bazley. “It is LeBron’s client, right?”
James’ famed agent, Rich Paul, helped orchestrate the one-of-a-kind deal for Bazley, who revoked his commitment to the Orange in March, as he originally planned to go straight to the G League.
It took the 33-year-old James just two hours to clap back, saying, “OH THEY BIG MAD!!!!!” in a tweet before Boeheim cowered down in response.
“Not me! I’m happy for him! I wish him the best,” Boeheim said.
Bazley recently announced he will not play in the G League to better prepare himself for the future. He signed with Paul, who represents James and 76ers star Ben Simmons, among others in the NBA. So he will work out and train for the draft.
His deal with New Balance is part of a multi-year deal that could reach $14 million, according to the New York Times.
“It’s not for everybody, so I’m not going to sit here and say anyone should follow this path,” Paul told ESPN shortly after Boeheim’s comment, noting the college coach did call him to apologize.
“This was just the right path for Darius Bazley. This is the right path for Darius Bazley and his family. It takes a collective group of people; his mom was very understanding and willing to allow me to advise them as a family. And the parents are important in this, as well. It’s not just me. The parents are very important. And you have to work together with families to help them understand why this is important.”
