Since their split in the 2017 offseason, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving have clashed numerous times, leaving no room for friendship on the court. Despite maintaining a solid relationship off it, when the game starts, neither holds back—and an unearthed clip from 2021 perfectly showcases their intense rivalry.

During a heated matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena, the Nets were hit with a technical foul, giving the Lakers a free throw. LeBron James, unexpectedly, stepped up to the line—and missed. Kyrie Irving, watching his former teammate fail, seized the moment. With a grin, he taunted, “That’s your best free-throw shooter?” The jab, though playful, visibly struck a nerve with James.

Irving’s question wasn’t just a dig but a fair critique. While James is an elite scorer, his free-throw shooting has always been one of his rare vulnerabilities, sitting at just 73.6% for his career. In the 2020-21 season, he was performing below even his usual average, making only 69.8% from the foul line. The miss was insignificant in the grand scheme, as the Nets cruised to an 11-point win. James still put on an impressive display, racking up 32 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists, while Irving posted a quieter 16 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists—but the psychological battle went to Kyrie.

Irving’s taunt seemed to hit home for LeBron. After struggling from the line for much of his career, he has not dipped below 75% since that season, suggesting the jab may have lit a fire in him. Whether Irving’s playful dig pushed James to address his free-throw shooting or not, one thing is clear: LeBron turned one of his few weaknesses into a strength, proving that even the smallest taunt can fuel greatness.