Topline
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, responding to recent criticism from Zlatan Ibrahimovic at AC Milan, has vowed to continue to fight racial injustice in the United States and not to “shut down out about things that are wrong ”despite some preferring to focus solely on playing basketball and not political matters.
Speaking to reporters after Lakers win 102-93 over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday … [+]
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Key facts
In an interview on Thursday, Ibrahimovic described it as a “mistake” for athletes to get involved in politics because “it doesn’t look good” and pointed out James in particular.
Ibrahimovic said James is “amazing at what he does, but I don’t like that when people have some sort of status, they go and do politics at the same time.”
Speaking to reporters after the Lakers’ 102-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night, James said, “there’s no way I’d ever stick to sports, because I understand the platform and power of my voice. “
James vowed to use his platform “to continue to shed light on everything that is going on across this country and around the world.”
Key background information:
This is not the first time James has been asked to avoid social or political opinion. In February of 2018, Fox News guest Laura Ingraham noted James and Kevin Durant ‘s views on the then – President Donald as “ignorant.” Ingraham, speaking to James and Durant, said: “You’re good at players, but no one voted for you. Millions have chosen Trump as their coach. So keep the political statement to yourself or, as someone once said, shut up and dribble. “Last summer, after Saints quarterback Drew Brees said other players should not kneel before games, Ingraham defended him, saying Brees should be allowed to have his say on what knees and the flag means two. The next day, James celebrated eternity, tweeting that Ingraham’s comments reveal “why the protest is going on” in the first place. Similarly, on Friday, James noted Ibrahimovic spoke out publicly three years ago against what he said was media “racism” related to his Muslim background. “I am not Andersson or Svensson,” he said. Ibrahimovic in 2018. “If I were like that, trust me, they would protect me.
Quote Cruise:
“He was the only one who said when he was back in Sweden … because his last name was not his last name, he felt racist. forward when he was out on the pitch, “said James.” I speak from a very educated mind, so I’m kind of wrong to go there because I will doing my homework. “
Tangent:
James also proudly addressed Friday’s sale of WNBA’s Atlanta Dream to a property group that included former Dream star Renee Montgomery, after WNBA players asked former Sen. Kelly Kelly Loeffler, (R- Ga.) Her sales division in the team over her hostility to the Black Lives Matter movement. “[Ibrahimovic] I can just ask Renee Montgomery if I would have closed and just dribble, “James said,” just seeing that beautiful Black woman today as part “of the Dream property group.
Amazing facts:
In October of 2019, James faced sharp criticism from human rights activists around the world after failing to counter the way China treated its own citizens. After Houston Rockets vice-general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for campaigners in Hong Kong, James said Morey was “wrong or not very educated about the situation. ”
Large number:
$ 42 million: In 2015, James partnered with Akron University to award the school a guaranteed four-year scholarship for students in the deserving James II Promise program, which is expected to cost around $ 41.8 million. Promise I School is a elementary school in LeBron’s hometown of Akron, Ohio.
Further reading:
LeBron James calls for justice for Breonna Taylor: ‘We want the cups to be seized’ (Forbes)
NBA rates fall not because of backlash over player activity, voting suggestions (Forbes)
LeBron James strikes back at Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s criticism of political activity (CNN)