LEBRON BLASTS TRUMP FOR RACIALLY DIVISIVE COMMENTS
- time NBA Most Valuable Player LeBron James accused United States President Donald Trump of sowing division among the American people.
Saying he cannot remain silent in the face of President Trump’s discriminating comments, James, who will be playing for the Los Angeles Lakers in the coming season, said the US Chief Executive has been intensifying racial divisions in the country.
“I believe our president is kind of trying to divide us,” James said in an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday.
“He’s kind of used sport to... divide us and that’s something I can’t relate to, because I know that sport
someone white. You know?,” James, also a three-time Finals MVP in gifting the Cleveland Cavaliers (twice) and The Miami Heat NBA championships (once), said.
James was referring, among others to Trump’s repeated criticism on National Football League players who kneeled during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, a protest action started by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016.
The 33-year-old James expressed sympathy with the kneeling players and voiced earlier criticism of Trump.
He told Lemon that he “can’t sit back and not say nothing” in the face of Trump’s attempts at discord.
The 14- time NBA All Star from 2006 to 2018, who despite changing teams four times in his career, has maintained he remains tied to his birth State Ohio.
On Monday, an elementary school for at- risk youngsters he named I Promise opened in his hometown of Akron, through his LeBron James Family Foundation.
James, wearing a grey suit and buttoned- down shirt, argued that even the most successful African- Americans face discriminatory attitudes.
“They always going to let you know that you are the N-word no matter who you are,” he said.
“I think it’s always been there. But I think the president in charge now has given people—they don’t care now, they throw it to your face.”
Asked what he would tell Trump if given a chance to sit with the President, James answered: “I would never sit across from him. I’d sit across from Barack, though,” he said in reference to Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama, the first AfricanAmerican president.
James helped the USA win a pair of Olympic gold medals – in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London -- and a bronze in 2004 in Athens.
He was also a member of the US national team, which brought home a bronze medal from the FIBA World Championship, held in 2006 in Japan.
Paul George recuperates from surgery
Paul George might not be as healthy as his Oklahoma City Thunder and fans expect him to be in his sophomore NBA season with his new team.
The 28- year- old forward the Thunder acquired from the Indiana Pacers last year, admitted having to undergo a pair of medical procedures this summer due to nagging injuries that bothered him
George told the that 18 to 20 ounces of blood had to be extracted from his shooting elbow in order to restore his scoring ability.
George averaged 21.9 points and shot 40.1 percent from 3-point range
That was apart from the surgery done on his knee on May and 18.
“I was dealing with that for pretty much the whole season,” George said. “That was causing a lot of frustration with shooting and playing.”
“To be able to shoot again, to be able to feel confident in my shot, to not have that on my mind, playing on the court… I’m great going forward.” George, who agreed to a four
- sion with the Thunder when free agency began July 1, said he felt comfortable in Oklahoma City.
“There was no need to prolong it and go further with meetings and interviews,” George said. “I knew what my heart was set on. I would just be wasting people’s time at that point.”
The Thunder sent forward Carmelo Anthony to the Hawks in exchange for point guard Dennis Schroder earlier this month in an effort to improve their roster.
They also re- signed forward