LeBron James will not stick to sports, no matter who suggests it.
During a weekly interview with Discover + in Sweden, Zlatan Ibrahimovic of AC Milan said it was a “mistake” that “doesn’t look good” when James and other “famous” people get involved in politics.
James responded to the football star’s comments following the Lakers victory on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
“I would never keep quiet about things that are wrong,” James said. “I preach about my people and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic suppression of voters. Things that happen in our community.
“Because I was part of my community at one point and I saw things happening and I 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 can happen, not only in my community, but also in this country and around the world. So, I could never just stay in sports, because I understand how strong this platform is and how strong my voice is. ”
James is one of the most politically and socially active figures in sports – and the 36-year-old has drawn the wrath of his words into the past. In 2018, Fox News host Laura Ingraham infamously told him to “shut up and dribble” after James criticized then-President Donald Trump.
In the last year, athletes like James have become more vocal about extrajudicial issues, following social protests across the country.
James and Ibrahimovic spent 16 months in Los Angeles between 2018 and 2019, when Ibrahimovic was with the Galaxy and James Lakers.
“He was the same guy who said when he came back to Sweden … because his last name wasn’t a certain last name, that he felt something racist happen when he was on the field,” James said. “I speak with a very polite mind, so I’m the wrong guy I have to go to, because I’m doing my homework.”
James was referring to an interview in 2018, when Ibrahimovic said that his Bosnian roots made 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 like that, trust me, he would defend me even if I robbed a bank. He would defend me, I tell you. ”
On Friday, James also praised Jaylen Brown of Celtics and NFL stars Patrick Mahomes and Alvin Kamara for using their platforms to fight for social justice. He also recognized former WNBA player Renee Montgomery, who became part of the Atlanta Dream franchise owner this week, after the league pressured Sen. Kelly Loeffler to sell.
“It makes me proud to be part of a generation where our voices are heard and the boys speak with an educated mindset,” James said. “But more importantly, when you speak from the heart, it sounds even louder.
“And we have a lot of guys who speak from the heart, who didn’t think they had a voice at some point or now go into it and see that they can have a voice and that their voice really matters. That makes me proud. ”