James: Jersey won’t define stance on social justice
He’s all in.
He’s not worried about his health. He’s not concerned about the layoff. He has no fears that his fight for social justice will get lost in the battle for a loose ball.
Addressing reporters for the first time since the beginning of the most tenuous period in American sports history, Lebron James left no doubt Saturday that this oddest of endeavors might be his most serious of missions.
Speaking from inside a Disney World quarantine in Orlando, Florida, and energized by the idea of leading the Los Angeles Lakers to an NBA championship while continuing to spread his message of equality, James is practically bursting in that bubble.
“No, it never crossed my mind that we did not need to play this beautiful game of basketball that brings so many people together, that brings happiness and brings joy to the households, to so many families,” he said.
He has rarely sounded this committed. He spoke with unusual passion and persistence. He delivered a message as giant as his task.
“I am more than an athlete” read the words on his black cap.
And it’s about more than a title, he explained. “I’m happy to have a platform where not only people will gain joy from the way I play the game … but also what I’m able to do off the floor,” James said. “Being able to use the NBA’S platform to continue to talk about what’s going on because I will not stop until I see real change for us as Black America, for African Americans, for people of color.”
He added, “I also believe I can do both, though — I can bring happiness to a lot of homes with the way I play the game and with the way the Lakers are going to play the game, and I will continue to push the envelope and continue to keep my foot on the gas while creating real change for us as people of color in America.”
James revealed Saturday that he would not wear one of the NBA’S 29 approved social justice messages on the back of his jersey, which will just read, “James.”
It’s not that he doesn’t agree with the messages, which include words and phrases such as “Black Lives Matter,” “Justice Now” and “Enough.” Rather, it’s clear that he wanted to use a phrase that was not included in a list by the league and union, and he doesn’t like being told how he should protest.
“I commend anyone that decides to put something on the back of their jersey, it’s just something that seriously didn’t resonate with my mission,” he said. “I don’t need to have something on the back of my jersey for people to … know what I’m about and what I’m here to do.”
James is in Orlando to enlighten, entertain and, yes, win. At age 35 and with some gray in his beard, James knows he might never have a better championship chance for the rest of his career than right now, with a Lakers team that was the league’s best when the season was interrupted.
“You don’t get opportunities like this … you don’t get teams like this,” Lakers guard Danny Green said recently. “If you have a special group, you better take advantage of it this year. And (James) knows it.”
Of course, the NBA postseason could collapse while surrounded by the surging coronavirus numbers in the Orlando area, but James didn’t sound worried.
“I believe in our franchise that we’re doing everything that we can to stay safe,” he said. “So I have no concerns, unless concerns started to happen and we’ll cross that bridge if it happens. But I’m here 100% in great health and I’m looking forward to getting back onto the floor.”