After President Donald Trump rescinded his White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors to celebrate their NBA championship, Cavaliers star LeBron James came to his colleagues’ defense.
James, who’s become one of the most outspoken players in the NBA, tweeted the following:
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
On Monday during his team’s preseason media day, James expounded on his thoughts about the president, what James says is Trump’s goal to divide America through sports, and the role James can play in making this country a better place.
While James mused on the importance of sports and how it unites people “like none other,” he also said he’s not going to let one individual use sports as a “platform to divide us.” James didn’t mention Trump by name, but it wasn’t difficult to discern who he meant.
https://www.facebook.com/SportsIllustrated/videos/10154878779406367/
James also praised the NFL, which featured more than 200 players kneeling or sitting in solidarity during the playing of the national anthem on Sunday, for its unity.
“I salute the NFL, the players, the coaches, the owners and the fans … it was unbelievable,” James said, via SI.com. “There was solidarity. There was no divide, no divide even from that guy that continues to try to divide us as people.”
James also assuaged his fans that even if you made a mistake and voted for Trump, it was still OK.
“I’ve done things for my kids, and I realized I shouldn’t have gave my daughter that many damn Skittles,” James said. “She won’t go to sleep now.”
But aside from that joke, James—whose home was vandalized with a racial slur last May—made sure he let everybody know where the power in this country is based.
“The people run this country, not one individual,” James said. “And damn sure not him.”