NBA superstar LeBron James said that the NBA community does not care if President Donald Trump watches their games or not.
“I really don’t think the basketball community are sad about losing his viewership,” James said. “The game will go on without his eyes on it. I can sit here and speak for all of us that love the game of basketball, we could [not] care less.”
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“Our game is in a beautiful position, and we have fans all over the world. Our fans not only the way we play the game and we try to give it back to them with our commitment to the game,” he said.
James said that he believes that fans also admire the way that NBA players acknowledge “what’s right and what’s wrong.”
“I hope everyone, no matter what race, no matter what color, no matter what size, see what kind of leadership we have at the top of our country. November is right around the corner, and it’s a big moment for us as Americans.”
“If we continue to talk about… we want better, we want change, we have an opportunity to do that. But, the game will go on without his eyes on it. I can sit here and speak for all of us who love the game of basketball we could (not) care less.”
(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Most NBA players have locked arms and kneeled during the National Anthem before every game this season which during the coronavirus pandemic is being held in a “bubble” in Orlando, Florida.
The players have been joined by coaches and referees as well.
In a FOX News interview Wednesday morning, Trump specifically addressed the protests.
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“I think it’s disgraceful,” the president said, “We worked with them. We worked very hard trying to get them open. I was pushing them to get open, then I see everyone kneeling during the anthem. It’s not acceptable to me. When I see them kneeling, I just turn off the game. I have no interest in the game. Let me tell you, there are plenty of other people out there [tuning out] too. … The ratings for the basketball are way down.”
“We have to stand up for our flag. We have to stand up for our country. We have to stand up for our anthem. A lot of people agree with me. Hey, if I’m wrong, I’m going to lose an election. That’s okay with me. I’ll always stand for our country and our flag.”
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