LeBron’s mad at the ‘bum’ and he’s not backing down
LeBron James is not backing down on his comments about U.S. President Donald Trump, and countless other players and coaches in the National Basketball Association made it clear at media days around the league Monday that they are equally fed up with what could perhaps be described as a pattern of actions from the White House that they would call divisive or worse.
Politics were the storyline of the NBA on the first official business day of the season for most clubs. That was no surprise, given the events of a weekend that included Trump rescinding the champion Golden State Warriors’ invitation to the White House, James calling the president a “bum” and stars like union president Chris Paul speaking out in frustration.
But these tensions have been present for far more than one weekend, and they are bubbling now in the NBA.
“We know this is the greatest country in the world,” said James, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ star. “It’s the land of the free. But we still have problems just like everybody else, and when we have those problems we have to figure out a way how we come together and be as great as we can be as a people.
“Because the people run this country. Not one individual. And damn sure not him.”
James referred to Trump as “that guy,” and defended his decision to call the president a “bum” — in what quickly became one of Twitter’s most-shared posts ever.
The name-calling didn’t end there: Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal called Trump “a clown” and Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan said the president is a “so-called leader.”
Trump said at a rally in Alabama on Friday night that National Football League owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem.
After deadly protests involving white nationalists in Charlottesville, Va., last month, Memphis Grizzlies coach David Fizdale has tried to get Confederate symbols such as monuments removed. On Monday, Fizdale said it was Trump who should stand accused of disrespecting military members. “Look at what he’s doing with North Korea, putting our troops in danger right now instigating a war,” Fizdale said. “You know how many troops we have in South Korea and Japan that’s in direct line with where this guy can fire missiles? Obviously, the Gold Star family that lost their son ... I can keep going on this, guys ….”