In an explosive interview with Sports Illustrated to promote his new film with Spike Lee, Highest 2 Lowest , Denzel Washington unleashed a blistering critique of modern sports media. The Oscar winner, endorsed by LeBron James , denounced the “opinionators” who dominate the scene with empty commentary, often lacking expertise in the sport they’re criticizing. “We live in a world of opinionators. That’s what I call them, ‘opinionnaires,’” Washington asserted, demanding: “Shut up. Learn how to do something. Be good at something.”
The clearest example was the media frenzy at the end of the 2024/25 NBA season, where the Stephen A. Smith -LeBron James clash overshadowed the Oklahoma City Thunder’s title run. James, a frequent target of such criticism, showed his support for Washington’s rhetoric on Instagram, as did Kevin Garnett. During the Finals, on the Mind the Game podcast , LeBron lamented that the media no longer promotes basketball, but instead “spews nonsense without responsibility.”
Washington and James point to an uncomfortable truth: sports media has changed. In the past, figures like Stuart Scott stood out for their in-depth analysis, not their sensationalism. Today, opinions generate clicks, clicks generate views, and views generate power. But the message is clear: athletes demand respect and authenticity. While change seems distant, Highest 2 Lowest hits theaters on August 15.
