The series of NBA champions skipping a visit to the White House will continue – at least for now.
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers will not see President Biden when the team travels to Washington, DC later this month for a game against the Wizards, according to several reports, stating that the team did not rule out a future visit.
The league’s COVID-19 protocols and a scheduling crisis will prevent the team from visiting, reports ESPN and USA Today, as the Lakers play in Orlando on April 26 before their game in DC on April 28, followed by a long flight back home for a game against Sacramento on April 30th.
Champions of the major sports leagues usually try to visit the White House during the off-season or during a trip through Washington during the ensuing season.
James’ Cavaliers were the last NBA championship team to visit the White House, attending a ceremony with Barack Obama after winning in 2016. The Golden State Warriors, after winning in 2017 and ’18, and the Toronto Raptors of 2019 did not want to visit President Trump at the White House. Steph Curry said in September 2017 “that we do not basically stand for what our president has – the things he said and the things he did not say at the right times – that we will not stand for them. not.”
Trump then withdrew an offer for the Warriors to visit.
After Biden was elected in November, Warriors star Draymond Green wrote on Twitter: “Yoooo @KingJames, you can go to the White House and celebrate everyone’s title G!”
James replied: ‘YOU support us my G !!! I also take my tequila and vino! ‘
The Lakers, who won the 2020 title in the NBA’s Orlando bubble in October, have yet to hold a championship parade due to COVID-19 concerns.