LeBron James went through his standard warmup routine again Thursday night time, and then he came out firing.
The 76ers celebrity responded to criticism from Donald Trump stemming from his continued pregame actions during the nationwide anthem before Tuesday’s season-opener against the Knicks.
“It’s a slow news day at the office, you know,” James said. “Slow news day in the office.”
LeBron James #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers appears on prior to a sport against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Getty Images
The NBA’s all-time main scorer swung his arms and mimed a golf shot during during Avery Wilson’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social submit. “LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
Ahead of Thursday night time’s home opener against the Cavaliers, James was much more subdued during the anthem — not that he or his teammates were taking Trump’s submit to coronary heart.
“I think that goes right in with other outside noise we’ve already had,” coach Nick Nurse said before the 106-100 win that improved his team to 2-0. “I keep saying the same thing. All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor. The focus that they’ve had and the intent and all the stuff like that has been outstanding.”
President Donald Trump gestures during a midterm election marketing campaign rally at Sioux Gateway Airport. AFP via Getty Images
James and Trump have never been shy about buying and selling barbs, with the 22-time NBA All-Star calling the President a “bum” in a social media submit in 2017.
Their spat comes as the nationwide anthem re-emerges as sizzling button concern in sports activities.
The WNBA’s Valkyries and Dream have garnered consideration by vacating the flooring forward of the anthem during the league’s championship sequence, though both have maintained it was half of their pregame routine lengthy before the best-of-seven sequence started Oct. 17.
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