Smith questioned why the president singled out James and suggested the criticism could serve a political purpose ahead of the midterms.
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith is pushing back against President Donald Trump’s public criticism of NBA star LeBron James. He argued that the president went too far by calling the basketball player a “total disgrace” over his behavior during the national anthem.
The dispute began after a video showed James moving his arms and appearing to practice his basketball shooting motion and a golf swing while the U.S. national anthem played before a Philadelphia 76ers game against the New York Knicks on October 20. Trump responded on Truth Social, accusing James of disrespecting the country and demanding that he apologize to American service members who died defending the nation.
Smith, however, questioned the president’s decision to single out the 41-year-old athlete. According to Yahoo Sports, he suggested the criticism could be politically motivated as the November midterm elections approach. Speaking on Mad Dog Sports Radio on October 23, Smith acknowledged that James’ movements during the anthem could be viewed as inappropriate by some people. However, he rejected the suggestion that the incident justified Trump’s harsh characterization of the NBA star.
Smith argued that Lebron James’ longstanding professional record and public influence deserved consideration beyond a brief video clip. He also said that Trump’s criticism could serve a political purpose by drawing attention to a high-profile athlete with a substantial fan base. According to Smith, sports offer politicians a way to reach audiences across different demographic groups. He argued that turning the incident into a political controversy could help the president appeal to supporters ahead of the midterms.
James offered a brief response when reporters asked about Trump’s criticism after Philadelphia defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 on October 22. Rather than engage in a lengthy exchange, the four-time NBA champion dismissed the controversy with a sarcastic remark, “Slow news day at the office”.
The response came after the president called on him to apologize to military personnel who died defending the United States. James did not offer the apology Trump demanded.
The latest dispute adds another chapter to the public tension between Trump and James, who have disagreed over politics and athletes’ public responsibilities for years.James previously criticized Trump in 2017 after the president withdrew an invitation for the Golden State Warriors to visit the White House following comments from star player Stephen Curry.
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