LeBron James is officially taking his talents to the Philadelphia 76ers, confirming his move just hours before Donald Trump, speaking from the White House, publicly questioned if the 41-year-old NBA icon might be ‘a racist.’ James had been considering retirement after eight seasons with the LA Lakers, making his decision to continue with a new team a huge story, now unexpectedly intertwined with these comments.
The White House Weighs In on LeBron and the GOAT Debate
During a news conference, Trump didn’t hold back when asked about the greatest basketball player ever, pitting Michael Jordan against James. Trump, who has been openly critical of James, quickly sided with Jordan. “Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine,” Trump said. “I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy. I think LeBron is, 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.” This statement instantly lit up the news. James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has four titles and four MVP awards. Jordan, Trump’s golf buddy, holds six titles and five MVP awards.
LeBron’s Political Stance and His Return to the Court
This isn’t the first time James has been a target of Trump’s criticism, and James has certainly made his political views known. In the 2024 US presidential election, the then 39-year-old Lakers star publicly endorsed Kamala Harris. He posted a fiery message on social media, writing: “What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!” That post included a video with clips of what were described as racist remarks by Trump and comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, ending with the caption: “Hate takes us back.” Back in 2016, James also supported Hillary Clinton. In 2020, Trump mocked James after he campaigned for Joe Biden, even saying he “felt badly” for James because Finals ratings were down. He added, “I didn’t watch one shot. I get bored,” as a crowd chanted “LeBron James sucks.” Meanwhile, Michael Jordan’s reps had to strenuously deny fake social media posts suggesting he had endorsed Trump, making it clear there was “absolutely no truth” to the claims. Now, after all that, James is reportedly signing a two-year deal with the Sixers worth around £6m. He spilled his thoughts on X, saying, “I thought I was done when the season ended. I wasn’t ready to announce it, and I knew I needed some time to really decide, but I was pretty sure I played my last game. I was honest at that last press conference when I said I needed to look at myself and decide if I still love this game. I still truly love this game, and I have more to give.”
LeBron’s gearing up for his 24th NBA campaign. With this kind of firestorm igniting just as he’s about to start a new chapter in Philly, you know every single game and every word will be under an even brighter microscope. It’s going to be wild watching what this all means for his legacy, and for the Sixers, next season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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