Carmelo Anthony Responds To Phil Jackson Calling LeBron James’s Business Partners A ‘Posse’

New York Knicks president Phil Jackson landed himself in hot water this week when, in a Q&A with ESPN.com, he referred to LeBron James’ business associates as his ‘posse.’

Carmelo Anthony Responds To Phil Jackson Calling LeBron James’s Business Partners A ‘Posse’

On Tuesday, James responded by saying Jackson doesn’t owe him any apologies.

“For what? He don’t owe (anything). I don’t know that man,” James said to cleveland.com.

Here is what Jackson was discussing in his interview. He originally used the word ‘posse’ in his 2004 book The Last Season, in which he wrote, among other things, about James’ rookie season in the NBA.

James’ business partner and lifelong friend, Maverick Carter, tweeted “All the hard work,effort and achievement and @PhilJackson11 still calls us a ‘posse’ every step you take they remind you, you ghetto.” He followed that up by tweeting, “Let me be clear I’m not saying @PhilJackson11 is racist, I’m calling out his disrespectful language.”

Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony, who has long been a friend of James since the two joined the NBA in 2003, also weighed in on Jackson’s comments, expressing his disappointment with the remarks, which some seem to have perceived as racist.

“I would never want to hear that word about me and my, I don’t want to say crew, but people that I consider family or people that I come up, been through thick and thin with,” Anthony said. “I’d want to be called a tight-knit group or family. That’s what I consider those close people to me.

Anthony continued: “To some people, the word ‘posse’ might not mean anything. It might just be a word. To some other people it could be a derogatory statement. It all depends on who you mention it to and who you’re talking about in essence. In this sense he was talking about four, five black man. Do I think he meant it in any kind of way? I really don’t know. I don’t think he did. I would hope that he didn’t. Sometimes Phil just say things and he says the first thing that comes to mind. Probably he’s in his office right now regretting it. With Phil you never know what’s going to be said, what’s coming.”

James and Anthony have competed together at the international level and won Olympic gold medals.

James won two titles with the Miami Heat while playing under Pat Riley, Jackson’s long-time rival. When asked if he had a relationship with Jackson, James reiterated: “Zero. No relationship at all,” James said. “I had nothing but respect for him as a coach, for what he was able to do obviously at the helm of my favorite player of all-time in (Michael Jordan) and also growing up watching the Lakers, but I’ve got nothing for him.”

NEW YORK, NY – NOVEMBER 09: Carmelo Anthony #7 of the New York Knicks drives into the lane against the Brooklyn Nets during the second half at Madison Square Garden on November 9, 2016 in New York City.