LeBron James is not going to stick to sports no matter who suggests it.
During an interview with Discover + in Sweden this week, AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic said it was a ‘mistake’ that ‘does not look good’ when James and other ‘famous’ people get involved in politics.
James responded to the soccer star’s comments after the Lakers’ victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.
“I will never keep quiet about things that are wrong,” James said. “I preach about my people and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic repression of voters. Things going on in our community.
‘Because at one point I was part of my community and saw things happening, and I still know what’s going on, because I have a group of over 300 children with me [charter] school going through the same thing, and they need a voice.
‘I am their voice, and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that is going on, not only in my community, but also in this country and around the world. So there is no way I would just stick to sports because I understand how this platform and how powerful my voice is. ”
James is one of the most political and socially active figures in sport – and the 36-year-old has been furious in the past for his words. In 2018, Fox News host Laura Ingraham reportedly told him to ‘stop and dribble’ after James criticized then-President Donald Trump.
In recent years, athletes like James have become more outspoken on out-of-court issues, following social protests across the country.
James and Ibrahimovic came over in Los Angeles for 16 months between 2018 and 2019, when Ibrahimovic was with the Galaxy and James the Lakers.
“He was the same man who said when he was back in Sweden … because his surname was not a certain surname, that he felt there was racism going on when he was on the field,” James said . “I speak from a very trained mind, so I’m kind of the wrong man to go on because I’m doing my homework.
James refers to an interview in 2018, when Ibrahimovic says that his Bosnian roots make him the subject of racism, especially in the media, in his native Sweden.
“I’m not Andersson or Svensson,” Ibrahimovic told Canal +. ‘If I were, trust me, they would defend me, even if I robbed a bank. They will defend me, I tell you. ‘
On Friday, James also praised Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Alvin Kamara for using their platforms to fight for social justice. He also gave recognition to Renee Montgomery, a former WNBA player who became a co-owner of the Atlanta Dream franchise this week after the league came under pressure from Senator Kelly Loeffler to sell.
“It makes me feel proud to be part of a generation where our voices are heard and guys speak from a trained mindset,” James said. “But more importantly, when you speak from your heart, it sounds even louder.
‘And we have a lot of guys who speak from the heart who do not believe they have a voice at some point, or now they come in and see that they can have a voice and that their voice really matters. It makes me proud. ”