LeBron James, Gregg Popovich speak out against Donald Trump on media day

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The flack that Donald Trump caught for his comments about athletes didn’t end after the NFL games, as LeBron James and Gregg Popovich were among the NBA figures to speak out against him during media day appearances Monday. 

James, who called Trump a “bum” for revoking Steph Curry’s invitation to the White House, said he doesn’t regret his choice of words at all. He clarified that he and his friends call each other bums, but that he would never call Trump his friend. 

“He doesn’t understand the power that he has, for being the leader of this beautiful country. He doesn’t understand how many kids, no matter the race, look up to the President of the United States for guidance, for leadership, for words of encouragement,” James said. “He doesn’t understand that, and that’s what makes me more sick than anything, that this is the number-one position in the world.

“And we are at a time where the most powerful position in the world has an opportunity to bring us closer together as people, and inspire the youth, and put the youth at ease on saying that, “It is OK for me to walk down the street and not be judged because of the color of my skin or because of my race.” And he has no recognition of that. And he doesn’t even care. Maybe he does, but he doesn’t care.”

Popovich, who said that the USA is currently “an embarrassment,” said that Trump is “comical.”

“I thought it was comical that [Curry’s invite] was rescinded, because [the Warriors] weren’t going anyway,” Popovich said. “It’s like a sixth-grader who’s gonna have a party in his backyard and he finds out somebody might not come so he disinvites him.

“But again I think, the behavior, although it’s disgusting, it’s also comical.”

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