LeBron Demanded To Apologize
Trump calls LeBron a disgrace after viral national anthem footage. Hear how the Sixers are handling the sudden backlash.
What the video says
Donald Trump just called LeBron James a total disgrace. The president lashed out online after seeing video of the basketball superstar during the national anthem.
Trump posted that James is no good and insisted he apologize to American warriors and heroes. The public swipe adds to a long-running feud between the president and the NBA icon.
The public back-and-forth flared up as James made his debut with the Philadelphia 76ers. James had not publicly commented or posted on social media about the criticism as of Thursday.
Sixers head coach Nick Nurse was forced to address the sudden political distraction before their home game. Nurse stated the outburst goes right in with other outside noise the team has already faced.
He stressed that his primary concern remains getting his players on the practice and game floors. Nurse added that the roster's focus and intent during training have been outstanding despite the headlines.
The team had to deal with the presidential backlash hours before facing the Cleveland Cavaliers. While his Sixers teammates mostly stood still during the pregame ceremony, James was spotted moving around.
The viral moment happened during Philadelphia's season opener against New York at Madison Square Garden. Trump was angered after watching footage of the star continuing his warm-ups during the song.
Footage showed LeBron James practicing a golf swing and jump shot while the national anthem played at Madison Square Garden.
