PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Donald Trump was charged Thursday LeBron James of disrespect to the United States after the NBA star appeared to continue his warm-up as the national anthem was played before Philadelphia season opener Tuesday.
“I said from the beginning he was no good, a complete disgrace,” Trump said of James in a social media post sharing the video. “LeBron James should apologize to all those great American warriors and heroes who died for the American flag and for everything our country stands for!”
James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as “The Star-Spangled Banner” was performed Tuesday at New York’s Madison Square Garden. James, beginning his first season with Philadelphia, was lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.
Trump and James have criticized each other for years, sometimes trading public jabs.
James had made no public comments or social media posts as of Thursday afternoon about Trump’s rebuke.
James, 41, who was in his 24th NBA season, was scheduled to make his home debut for the Sixers on Thursday night against Cleveland.
Coach Nick Nurse had spoken at length since training camp opened about the Sixers’ need to avoid outside distractions. Hours before their home opener, the Sixers faced a problem from the president.
“I think it goes well with others outside noise we’ve had some before,” Nurse said before the game. “I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting on the practice field, getting them in the film room, getting them on the game floor. The focus they had and the intention and all that kind of stuff was exceptional.
Among the most notable moments James tangled with the president or politics:
LeBron wears 1 black shoe, 1 white shoe
James was with Cleveland in 2017 when he made a statement with his shoes: one black, one whitewith the word “equality” in gold capital letters on the back of each.
Then, after the game, James made a statement about Trump, saying, “This is a beautiful country and we’re never going to let one person dictate to us how beautiful and powerful we are.” »
James had called Trump “ a tramp ” on Twitter and also said earlier that season of the president: “He doesn’t understand how many kids, regardless of race, look to the President of the United States for advice, for leadership, for words of encouragement. He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me sicker than anything else.
Shut up and dribble
James showed his determination to speak out on social issues and the country’s political climate after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized the four-time NBA champion for his 2018 comments on social issues.
“We certainly won’t shut up and dribble“, James said. “I definitely won’t do that. I mean too much to society. I mean too much to young people. I mean too much to so many children who feel like they have no way out and need someone to help them get out of the situation they find themselves in.
James referenced Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who have already championed equality and change without worrying about consequences or rewards.
“We know it’s bigger than us,” James said.
Getting people to the polls
James was named The Associated Press’ Male Athlete of the Year in 2020 in large part for leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship and helping persuade many people – at the height of the Black Lives Matter movement – who had never voted, to finally go to the polls.
“I always know what I’m doing on the field and obviously I give everything to the game,” James said. “But I can have a bigger impact on the court right now, more than on the court. And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play basketball. But there are so many other things I can do off the court to help cultivate people, inspire them, bring them together, empower them.”
James rejects Ibrahimovic’s criticism of activist athletes
AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted socially conscious athletes in a 2021 interview. Ibrahimovic called James and other athletes’ participation in political causes a “mistake,” saying they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”
James, of course, dismissed the criticism.
“I will never shut up about things that are wrong,” James said.
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Associated Press writer Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this report.
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