Following the Lakers game on Wednesday with Oklahoma City, Lakers star LeBron James was asked to respond to President Donald Trump calling NBA kneeling protests “disgraceful.” James wasn’t the only person to weigh in, Clippers coach Doc Rivers responded as well.
What President Trump said …“When I see people kneeling during the playing and disrespecting our flag and disrespecting our national anthem, what I do personally is turn off the game. And the ratings for the basketball are way down, as you know.”
President Trump calls NBA players "disgraceful" for kneeling during anthem, implies that he's done more for the black community than Abraham Lincoln pic.twitter.com/C5YJW3pAps
— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) August 5, 2020
And this … “I think it’s disgraceful. We work with the NBA, we worked with them very hard trying to get open. I was pushing for them to get open. Then I see everybody kneeling during the anthem. That’s not acceptable to me.”
Lakers star LeBron James and Clippers coach Doc Rivers had this reaction …
LeBron brought up the video of the Aurora incident himself, where a Black family with young children was detained by police: “We just want better as the Black community. We’re literally not asking for a lot.” pic.twitter.com/dV9851B83z
— Kyle Goon (@kylegoon) August 6, 2020
“Are you trying to make me laugh right now? I appreciate that,” James said in response to a reporter noting the president’s criticism. “I really don’t think the basketball community [is] sad about losing his viewership, him viewing the game. That’s all I’ve got to say. I already know where this could lead to tomorrow for me.”
Clippers coach Doc Rivers responds to President Donald Trump saying that he won’t watch NBA games because of players kneeling during the national anthem. pic.twitter.com/JZwEMBea8j
— Inside SoCal Sports 📰 (@InsideSoCalSpts) August 6, 2020
Rivers spoke Thursday morning about the president’s criticism, defending the players’ and coaches’ right to demonstrate against racial inequity.
“We lost one guy. So really I don’t even care,” he said. “We know that justice is on our side, right? And this hat that I’m wearing is what our president is trying to get us to not do, which I think is disgraceful.”
James later continued his message for racial equality, sharing his concerns for a Black family — including several children — handcuffed by Aurora, Colorado police and made to lay on hot pavement. Police mistakenly identified the family’s minivan as a stolen motorcycle and drew their weapons.
