NBA legend LeBron James was recently selected by the U.S. Olympic Committee to carry the American flag at the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. LeBron’s selection marks the first time in history that a U.S. basketball player will have carried the flag on behalf of the nation. Reportedly, LeBron was nominated by fellow NBA superstar Steph Curry to represent America with the red, white, and blue.
However, the selection of James has received backlash, given that the NBA veteran has a history of kneeling for the anthem and voicing criticism toward the United States. Furthermore, LeBron has also come under fire for his sympathetic attitude toward China, a growing market that American basketball seeks to capitalize on.
LeBron spoke about the honor of being chosen to represent his country at the international sporting event. “It’s an incredible honor to represent the United States on this global stage, especially in a moment that can bring the whole world together. For a kid from Akron, this responsibility means everything to not only myself but to my family, all the kids in my hometown, my teammates, fellow Olympians, and so many people across the country with big aspirations. Sports have the power to bring us all together, and I’m proud to be a part of this important moment,” he said in a statement.
Despite James’ patriotic message of unity, he has faced substantial criticism in recent years for allegedly supporting communist China. Reports indicate that LeBron has even attacked people who have spoken out against the enslavement of the minority Uyghur population in the country, who have been forced to work in Chinese sweatshops.
For example, James got into a spout with Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter in 2021 after he wore shoes that bore a critical message regarding China. Furthermore, James also criticized former Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey in 2019 over comments about the geopolitical tensions between Hong Kong and China. Moore wrote at the time, “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong.” Reportedly, James labeled Morey as “uneducated” over the stance and “raged” about him behind closed doors.
Moreover, James has also garnered a reputation, particularly during the state of heightened racial tensions over the past few years, for pushing a racial agenda and bashing the United States. LeBron made headlines in 2020 for kneeling during the national anthem that was being played before games, a common practice that athletes adopted after the death of George Floyd.
In other news surrounding the 21-year seasoned veteran, The American Tribune reported on speculation about “abuse of power” when the Lakers selected James’ son, Bronny, as the 55th overall pick in the 2024 NBA draft. Many have suggested that Bronny lacks the skills of an NBA player and was selected by the Lakers due to nepotism from his father.
Steven Hunter, a former NBA player who was in the league from 2001 to 2010, wrote on social media that Bronny being drafted was “egregious abuse of power from LBJ [LeBron James] & Rich Paul. It’s a slap in the face to all of the kids out there who work their asses off to get to the league. It’s sneaky Hollywood s— like this that turns a lot of people off about Lebron.”
