“I just have to pick up the phone”

Since most of this entire post will be devoted to Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, I’ll start with this compliment: LeBron James is one of the greatest basketball players in NBA history, with a level of physical ability rarely seen in league history.

In fact, he’s so skilled that the only force on earth that could match that would be James’ hubris (if Michael Jordan didn’t shy away from turning 60 for a month, he could easily match – or surpass – LeBron, but this is another debate at another time.)

An amazing talent James has witnessed in his two-decade pro career, he has also proven to be one of the thinnest, hypocritical, race-baiting, and anti-American players in those 20+ years.

But James’ worst quality? It’s just his over-entitlement and this history of The Oregonian/Oregon Live Hammers pointing home in a painfully obvious way.

The story itself, which focuses more on James’ son Bronny, is about the will-or-not-will dalliance between James’ eldest son, who may be attending the University of Oregon.

The reason for this relationship is pretty simple: Bronny may be interested in playing for the Ducks, but the school and head coach Dana Altman haven’t offered him a scholarship.

That’s a big deal, isn’t it?

But don’t worry, Bronny, it sure isn’t your father.

“Dana knows,” James told The Oregonian/OregonLive Sunday after the Lakers game against the Portland Trailblazers. “He knows the interest. And it’s mutual.”

Again, the lack of a grant offer seems to imply that interest may be at least a little more one-sided than James is implying.

But there’s a reason James doesn’t break a sweat. And it’s exactly the sickeningly legitimate answer you’d expect.

“I just have to pick up the phone,” James said. “If Bronny says he wants to go there, he’s good enough.”

“I just have to pick up the phone”? Serious?

James couldn’t have sounded more valid there without also complaining that his diamond tiara is too tight and all his $100 bills don’t fit in his wallet.

In addition, it also takes a lot to never commit to a school even though you don’t get an offer. Now Bronny is 33rd in the country, which is certainly nothing to scoff at.

But 33rd overall is a long way from ending up in the top 3 or top 5. And there’s also an argument that his last name might also slightly exaggerate his worth.

And unfortunately, based on other comments from James, it’s clear that he has no problem passing that sense of entitlement on to his kids.

“I think Bronny can go to any college he wants,” James said.

That’s just not true, LeBron.

And there is something to be said about this attitude of entitlement in this day and age, when it seems to be more pervasive than ever. Bronny shouldn’t be happy going to Oregon because his famous dad pulled some strings. He should want to get himself a basketball scholarship on his own.

Unfortunately, that kind of gibberish is expected of James at this point. It’s been well over 20 straight years in the public eye to see James behaving like the entitled diva that he is.

All you have to do is listen to him.