Don’t quit your day job, LeBron.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has won the dubious Golden Raspberry award for Worst Actor in his 2021 role in Space Jam 2: A New Legacy. His acting was also called “incompetent” by Mediaite.
The Golden Raspberry Awards, aka the "Razzie" Awards, are the anti-Oscars. Razzies slam the worst films and actors, rather than the best motion pictures and actors. For 42 years, Razzies have called out actors for bad acting. James joined a distinguished list of performers in winning the dubious award. Mark Wahlberg, John Travolta, Lindsay Lohan, Eddie Murphy and Adam Sandler are just some of the past winners.
James and Space Jam won a major haul of Razzies, including awards for Worst Screen Combo, Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-off or Sequel in addition to his Worst Actor put-down.
IMDB rated James’ Space Jam sequel 4.4 out of 10, while Rotten Tomatoes scored it at an atrocious 26 percent. These bad reviews provide strong support for James taking home the Razzie.
Michael Jordan starred in the original Space Jam, and that film’s director, Joe Pytka, said James’ performance wasn’t even close to Jordan’s performance.:
“It’s not Space Jam. Space Jam is Michael Jordan. No matter how much LeBron wants to be a great player — and he is a great player — he’s not Michael Jordan. There will never be another Michael Jordan.”
“LeBron James' first time out as lead actor was a bust, per Razzies voters, who awarded him worst actor for ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy,’ in which he played himself," CNN Wire reported. "The Razzies didn't buy his chemistry with Bugs Bunny either -- James also won worst screen couple with every Warner Media character he appeared alongside.”
James joins Dennis Rodman as a winner of three Razzies in the 1997 film Double Team and Shaquille O’Neal as a nominee for his role in Steel as pro basketball players who drew Razzie attention for bad acting.
Wait, there's more to be said for James' acting capacities.
Whether it’s an award given by the Razzies or any other organization, Jordan should also win a meritorious award as best flopper in the NBA. His ability to act as if he has been seriously injured by opponents committing flagrant fouls is legendary. In fact, a great compilation is available for viewing here. His on-court acting is even worse than his off-court acting.