PHILADELPHIA (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday accused LeBron James of disrespecting the United States after the NBA star appeared to continue his warmups while the national anthem was performed before Philadelphia’s season opener on Tuesday.
asserted
anthem → accuse → Tuesday
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump said of James in a social media post sharing the video.
asserted
Trump → say → video
“LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
asserted
Country → apologize → that
James appeared to practice a golf swing and jump shot as The Star-Spangled Banner was performed at Tuesday’s game in New York.
asserted
Banner → appear → York
James, starting his first season with Philadelphia, was lined up alongside teammates who mostly stood still during the anthem.
asserted
who → start → anthem
Trump and James have been critical of each another for years, occasionally trading public swipes.
asserted
Trump → trade → swipes
James had not made a public comment or a social media post as of Thursday afternoon about Trump’s gripe.
asserted
James → make → gripe
The 41-year-old James, in his record 24th NBA season, was set to make his home debut for the Sixers Thursday night against Cleveland.
asserted
James → set → Cleveland
Among some of the more notable times James became entangled with the president or politics:
LeBron wears 1 black shoe, 1 white shoe
James was with Cleveland in 2017 when he made a statement during an NBA game with his shoes — one black, one white, with the word “equality” in capital gold letters on the back of each.
asserted
word → wear → 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 how beautiful and how powerful we are.”
asserted
we → make → Trump
James had called Trump “ a bum ” on Twitter and also said earlier that season of the president: “He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the president of the United State for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement.
asserted
He → call → encouragement
He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything.”
asserted
me → understand → anything
Shut up and dribble
James showed determination to speak out on social issues and the nation’s political climate after Fox News host Laura Ingraham criticized the three-time NBA champion for his 2018 comments about social issues.
asserted
Ingraham → shut → issues
“We will definitely not shut up and dribble,” James said.
asserted
James → shut → ?
“I will definitely not do that.
asserted
I → do → that
I mean too much to society.
asserted
I → mean → society
I mean too much to the youth.
asserted
I → mean → youth
I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”
asserted
they → mean → situation
James referenced Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who previously spoke up for equality and change with no concerns about the consequences or any rewards.
“We know it’s bigger than us,” James said.
asserted
James → reference → us
Get 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 helped convince many — at the peak of Black Live Matter — who had never voted to finally head to the polls.
asserted
who → get → polls
“I still know what I do on the floor and obviously, I give everything to the game,” James said.
asserted
James → know → game
“But I can make a greater impact off the floor right now, more than I can on the floor.
asserted
I → make → floor
And I want to continue to inspire people with the way I play the game of basketball.
asserted
I → want → basketball
But there’s so many more things that I can do off the floor to help cultivate people, inspire people, bring people together, empower them.”
asserted
I → ’ → them
James rejects Zlatan’s criticism of activist athletes
AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star Zlatan Ibrahimovic blasted socially conscious athletes in a 2021 interview.
asserted
Ibrahimovic → reject → interview
Ibrahimovic called it “a mistake” for James and other athletes to get involved in political causes, saying they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”
asserted
it → call → what
James, naturally, rejected the criticism.
asserted
James → reject → criticism
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James said.
asserted
James → shut → things
AP White House reporter Collin Binkley in Washington contributed to this story.
asserted
Binkley → contribute → story
The Aporia
