In the world of professional sports, certain words are known to spark intense reactions and retaliation. A recent heated exchange involving Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James and Houston Rockets’ head coach Ime Udoka led to social media users attempting to lip-read Udoka’s alleged words, and it didn’t sit well with Lakers head coach Darvin Ham.
The tension escalated when Cam Reddish made contact with Tari Eason, resulting in a testy situation on the court. Reportedly, Udoka uttered words along the lines of “you have to stop crying like b**ches” directed at the Lakers, which greatly offended LeBron James. This led to a back-and-forth exchange, and both received technical fouls. However, since it was Udoka’s second technical of the game, he was ejected from the match.
Despite the verbal altercation, the Lakers managed to secure a 107-97 victory against the Houston Rockets at the Crypto.com Arena, marking the Rockets’ third consecutive loss. Darvin Ham, in response to Udoka’s comments, made it clear that he and his team don’t appreciate being labeled as such, asserting, “There ain’t no crying b**ches over here, Saginaw said so.” Ham’s strong statement reflects his commitment to the toughness of his team and franchise player.
.@ramonashelburne shares Darvin Ham’s reaction to the interaction between Ime Udoka and LeBron 😲 pic.twitter.com/wv8RcNFoJ1
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 4, 2023
If this exchange lingers in both locker rooms, fans can anticipate an extra level of intensity when the Lakers (12-9) and the Rockets (8-9) face off in their next matchup, scheduled for January 2024.