LEBRON’S ANGUISH

LEBRON JAMES is the face of the NBA — instantly recognizable to both sports fans and the general public.

But even the nation’s most iconic athlete believes he’s powerless to protect his son if he were to fall into the hands of a “bad cop.”

James said he’d lack confidence in the police if that happened, if he learned that his oldest son, 11-year-old LeBron Jr., had been pulled over.

“It’s a scary thought right now to think if my son gets pulled over,” King James said Monday during the Cleveland Cavaliers’ media day.

“You tell your kids, ‘If you just listen to the police, that they will be respectful and things will work itself out.’ And you see the videos that continue to come out . . . . It’s a scary-ass situation, that if my son calls me and says he’s pulled over, that I’m not that confident that things are gonna go well and my son is gonna return home.”

His public stand comes amid the stir created when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began protesting police killings by refusing to stand for the national anthem. As insulated — and very likely safe — as James is as an NBA star, he’s still aware that police violence can affect him.

James said he doesn’t plan on duplicating Kaepernick’s protest and kneeling during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“Me, standing for the national anthem is something I will do,” he said. “That’s who I am. That’s what I believe in. But that doesn’t mean that I don’t respect what Colin Kaepernick is doing. You have the right to voice your opinion, stand for your opinion.”

The NBA has a rule that compels players to stand during the anthem, but all signs point to Commissioner Adam Silver enforcing it leniently — leaving the door open for Kaepernick-like protests.

Last week, a joint memo from Silver and Players Association head Michelle Roberts indicated that the league wants to work with players to advocate on issues of social injustice — but didn’t mention anything about the anthem.

It was just two months ago that James stood shoulder-toshoulder with fellow NBA superstars Carmelo Anthony, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul at the ESPY awards, pushing for an end to all violence.

“I’m all in favor of anyone, athlete or nonathlete, being able to express what they believe in in a peaceful manner, and that’s exactly what Colin Kaepernick is doing,” James said, “and I respect that.”