FOUR-TIME NBA champion LeBron James hit back at Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, saying there is no reason why he cannot have just as big an impact off the basketball court as he does on it.
James has been a force for social change in America, focusing much of his attention on police brutality and racial injustice against African Americans.
He was outspoken about the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last summer, against Donald Trump, and he worked with other NBA stars to try and get Black people out to vote during the recent US election that brought Joe Biden to power.
“I am kind of the wrong guy to go at because I do my homework,” said James after the Los Angeles Lakers 102-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
James was responding to Ibrahimovic’s comments earlier this week that athletes should “stay out” of politics, mentioning James by name and calling him out over his political activism.
“(LeBron) is phenomenal at what he’s doing, but I don’t like when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time,” Ibrahimovic said.
Speaking in an interview for UEFA for Discovery+ in Sweden, the outspoken striker said it is a “mistake” when athletes step out of their lane.
“I don’t do politics… That is the first mistake people do when they become famous and they become in a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look good,” Ibrahimovic said.
James helped found the More Than a Vote organisation which boosted voter turnout in Black areas. The group organized more than 40,000 volunteers to work at the polls during the November federal election.
James says winning championships is one thing but inspiring and empowering people and bringing Americans together is just as rewarding.
“At the end of the day I would never shut up about things that are wrong. I preach about my people and I preach about equality, social injustice, racism, voter suppression. Things that go on in our community,” James said.
“There is no way I would ever just stick to sports. I know how powerful my voice is.”
James said he likes to think he is the start of something much bigger in sports.
“You see young guys speaking about things they feel is unjust,” he said. “For a long time we heard, ‘as athletes you should be thankful to be able to throw a ball, dribble a ball, swing a baseball bat. You shouldn’t be able to speak about anything else.’
“That is not the case anymore. It won’t be the case for a long time.”
True LeBron. Unless it comes to China. Then you have nothing to say and you criticize anyone who does have something to say.
@thomas walsh: yeah, I wonder why he didn’t want to make a massive public statement critical of China, while in China as a guest of the Chinese government. The criticism you mention him distributing is very clearly not a rebuke of what was said but pointing out the lack of thought put into the possible reprecussions for those in China at the time.
@Dave O Keeffe: Nice try but I ain’t buying it. Why continue to do business with China then? Why tell another man to stick to being a GM and don’t comment?
@thomas walsh: I don’t think this black and white approach makes any sense. I think he’s wrong to not be critical of China, but that in no way means he can’t be (rightfully) critical of other injustices. No one in history has ever had a perfect record of holding the “correct” position on EVERY SINGLE issue in world politics, past and present. By your own logic, you’re in no position to make this comment unless you’ve never turned a blind eye to any injustice anywhere ever. Neither would I, if I followed your logic. Him being wrong on one issue (and views are subjective), doesn’t invalidate his position on all others. We’ve all walked past a person in need at some point, whilst giving to another.
@Fergal O’ Reilly: I never said he shouldn’t speak out. My point is he told others they shouldn’t speak out against China. Told the GM to mind his business. You can’t have it both ways and you shouldn’t do business with a government that is putting their own people in concentration camps
@thomas walsh: *he told a GM that was in the US while he was in China to shut up and because of that GM the Chinese government cancelled their press activities in China.
@Dave O Keeffe: so what? The GM was 100 percent right in what he said. LeBron was wrong and he’s still wrong to be doing business with China
@thomas walsh: when you say he told others not to speak out, I’m assuming you’re referring to the players meeting while in China, now can you think of any reason at all why it might be a bad idea to speak out against China in a cmvery public and embarassing way for China while in China?
@Dave O Keeffe: no sir. He told the GM of the Rockets not to speak out. He has not said a word about China since then while he is safely in the US. China is running concentration camps yet LeBron is still doing business with them
@thomas walsh: the Brits invented them and the USA loves a good one- Especially in Cuba. Wise up little boy
Take your nose out of it Zlatan fella.
Lebum James
I know Ibrahimovic is an immigrant but it’s a cheap shot to call out a an African American who grew up in poverty. Those of you who comment here on his lack of activism on China need to understand the ‘hierarchy of causes’ that LeBron feels he needs to lead on.
But but but but but but…Maybe LeBron skirted the China issue and he’s been right called out for it. But he has taken are very strong stance on other social issues. Should world famous athletes only talk about how brilliant they are and ignore the world around them – like Zlatan does.?