LeBron James rejected Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s criticism of his social activism and highlighted the hypocrisy of the AC Milan star’s comments on Friday.
Ibrahimovic, whose time playing for his former LA Galaxy team, coincided with James’ first season with the Lakers, criticized James on Thursday in a UEFA interview for Discovery + in Sweden, saying it was a “mistake” and “no” looks good “when James and other” famous “people get involved in politics.
“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 went out on the field,” James said. “I speak from a very polite mind, so I’m the wrong guy I have to go to because I’m doing my homework.”
A few years ago, Ibrahimovic said he was subjected to “undercover racism” in his native Sweden because his Bosnian roots gave him a family name that does not sound traditionally Swedish.
“I’m not Andersson or Svensson,” Ibrahimovic told Canal + in 2018, referring to what he considered racist treatment in the media. “If I were like that, trust me, he would defend me even if I robbed a bank. He would defend me, I tell you.”
James was not discouraged by Ibrahimovic’s position against him and explained why he addresses extrajudicial issues in the way he does.
“I would never keep quiet about things that are wrong,” James said of the Lakers’ 102-93 victory over the Trail Blazers on Friday night. “I preach about my people and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. The systematic suppression of voters. Things that are happening in our community.
“Because I was part of my community at one point and I saw things happening and I know what still happens, because I have a group of over 300 kids at my school who are going through the same thing and they need a voice. And I am their 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 stay in the sport, because I understand how strong this platform is and how strong my voice is.”
James has recognized former WNBA player Renee Montgomery, who became the owner of the Atlanta Dream on Friday, after the league put pressure on former Senator Kelly Loeffler, a Republican who opposed WNBA racial justice initiatives last summer, to sell the part them on the team.
“You can ask Renee Montgomery if I would have kept quiet and dribbled [what would have happened]”James said, later referring to the two-time WNBA champion as a” beautiful black woman. “
James also credited Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints for their commitment to social justice issues.
“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. “
James ‘I Promise School in Akron, Ohio, not only educates hundreds of at-risk children in his hometown, but also offers affordable housing, a meal program and vocational training for students’ families.
His organization More than a vote was also key to mobilizing more than 40,000 volunteers to work at polling stations in the November general election in an effort to prevent voter suppression.
“As athletes, we’ve been hearing this for a long time,” James said. “Should [feel] privileged. You should be grateful to be able to dribble a ball or run a football or to be able to make the 100 yard line or to be able to tie a baseball bat and things like that. You shouldn’t be able to talk about anything else. , whether it is right or wrong, you should do this. But this is not the case. This is no longer the case. As long as I’m around, it won’t be the case for long. “