NBA superstar LeBron James said he and other players do not care if President Trump watches professional basketball games.
“I really don’t think the basketball community is sad about losing his viewership,” James said Wednesday night after the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder. “That’s all I got to say. I already know where this could go, where it could lead to tomorrow for me. I’m not going to get into it, but I think our game is in a beautiful position, and we have fans all over the world.”
James said true fans of the NBA “love the way we play the game” and respect players and teams for using their platform to advocate for social justice initiatives, a league-wide decision he called “acknowledging what’s right and what’s wrong.”
Following the death of George Floyd and the massive protests that it sparked across the nation, the NBA committed to raising awareness regarding social justice. The phrase “Black Lives Matter” has been displayed prominently during games this season, and players have been allowed to display the names of victims of police brutality on the backs of their jerseys.
Trump has criticized Black Lives Matter and those who support it, calling it a Marxist political movement that seeks to destroy American traditions and saying that many of the group’s leaders are promoting a “hateful,” anti-police message.
Separately, Trump has criticized kneeling protests before professional sports games, which members of Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and the NBA have all participated in.
“Looking forward to live sports, but any time I witness a player kneeling during the National Anthem, a sign of great disrespect for our Country and our Flag, the game is over for me!” Trump tweeted as professional sports began its return following a nationwide shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.
At least one NBA player, Orlando Magic forward Jonathan Isaac, said he won’t kneel during the anthem or wear one of the Black Lives Matter T-shirts donned by many players while warming up or sitting on the bench during games.
James has been a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter, putting out public statements and social media posts expressing outrage following the deaths of several minorities either during interactions with police or at the hands of white people.
“I hope everyone, no matter the race, no matter the color, no matter the size, will see what leadership we have at the top in our country and understand that November is right around the corner,” James said of the president. “It’s a big moment for us as Americans.”
As for Trump’s decision not to watch games, James said he speaks for many players in the NBA in saying they are indifferent.
“The game will go on without his eyes on it,” James said. “I can sit here and speak for all of us that love the game of basketball. We could care less.”
