LeBron James seemingly is not taking President Donald Trump‘s latest personal jabs seriously as debate swirls over the athlete’s behavior during a recent NBA game.
“It’s a slow news day at the office, you know,” James, 41, told reporters in the locker room following the Philadelphia 76ers’ 114-106 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday, October 22.
Trump, 80, seized on a new controversy involving James when the NBA star was shown on camera practicing taking golf swings and warming up while the National Anthem was played before the 76ers’ season opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, October 20. (The 76ers beat the reigning NBA Champions, the Knicks, 106-100 in James’ debut for the franchise.)
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” Trump complained via Truth Social hours later. “I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE. 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.”
The president continued to attack James during his rally in Sioux City on Wednesday, October 22, asking why the 76ers power forward “[left] the court while the National Anthem was playing.”
“What’s that about?” Trump asked a booing crowd. “The NFL did that for a while and they stopped because people stopped watching the games.”
76ers coach Nick Nurse brushed off Trump’s criticism of James before Thursday’s game, insisting the chatter “goes right in with other outside noise we’ve already had.”
“All I really care about is getting them to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor, and the focus that they’ve had and the intent and all the stuff they’ve had has been excellent,” Nurse, 59, told the media.
Trump and James’ feud dates back nearly a decade to the NBA legend branding the president “a bum” for rescinding a White House invitation for Stephen Curry to visit with the Golden State Warriors in 2017. James has endorsed all three of Trump’s presidential election challengers — Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.
“When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS,” James tweeted in October 2024.
The president fired back by speculating that the newly-signed 76ers player might be “racist” in July when asked whether James or Michael Jordan is the true NBA GOAT.
“Michael Jordan’s a guy that’s a friend of mine,” Trump insisted. “I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy.”
He added, “And I think LeBron, maybe he’s a racist. But maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
Trump offered no context for why he accused James of racism at the time.
