Pop: Superhero LeBron should NEVER ‘shut up’

SHUT up and listen.

Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich held nothing back on Sunday when he was asked about Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s “shut up and dribble” comments she made last week about LeBron James.

Popovich, who is often outspoken on social and political issues, slammed Ingraham’s “arrogance” in a lengthy retort while also praising James’ character and leadership he’s provided, especially off the court.

“I don’t pick and choose what LeBron should talk about any more than any talking head should try to pick and choose what he talks about,” Popovich said. “To me, when I heard about that, it was like an unbelievable show of arrogance for a talking head to try to tell someone else if they can speak, what they can speak about, when and where to do it. It’s just ludicrous.

“But to not have a feel for who this guy is . . . think about when he came into the public view. How young was he? And to this day he hasn’t missed a step. He hasn’t fallen off the ledge. He’s been a brilliant example for millions of kids, especially of kids of lesser opportunity who haven’t had the same advantages of others. And they see in this guy somebody who’s consistently exhibited excellence in the workplace. It gives them a voice, lets them know that you can speak about anything.

“There really is a First Amendment, and I can have opinions as a coach, as a plumber, as an astrophysicist, as a lowly reporter. I can have whatever opinions I want. When you look at this guy, how many tens of millions of dollars he’s given. Tens of millions of kids that ... are inspired by him. It's kind of like the Black Panther movie. How cool is that for kids to see that and have that superhero?”