ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith urges LeBron James to be more transparent with COVID vaccine decision



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LeBron James’ response to a question about whether or not he would receive the coronavirus vaccine did not suit the fiery personality of ESPN Stephen A. Smith.

James had told reporters ahead of the NBA All-Star Game that he planned to keep the decision to make the vaccine “private”. But Smith said Tuesday that was something James shouldn’t keep a secret, given what’s at stake when it comes to contracting the disease and what the vaccine can do to help people.

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“Well, this is a very touchy conversation, and I want to approach it with the seriousness that it deserves. By being completely respectful to LeBron James, I want to stress that LeBron James has a right to feel that. people, this is an incredibly private situation. As a black man, given the history of this nation and its unethical behavior when it came to using black people as guinea pigs for our people. eyes, I certainly understand the hesitation and apprehension on his part, “Smith first told ESPN’s” First Take. “

“I say this to LeBron James, my brother, to all of our brothers, who is an incredibly, incredibly influential figure. I would tell him that he has taken positions on many, many, many things of incredible importance to our community, ”he continued. “One could easily argue when you see the number of deaths associated with COVID-19, there are very few that he has encountered that is more difficult or intimidating than that, and if you could talk about these things, you might want to think. to talk about it. “

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“I’m not going to say, ‘I think he should.’ I think he should, but I’m not going to go into conviction or anything like that because I understand where he’s coming from. I really know it, ”he added. “But because he is who he is, and has recognized who he is, now is not the time to get private. Not about it. And that’s why I decided not to be. private about that too. I will take the vaccine. I will take my first dose today. “

Smith expanded on his comments in a tweet.

James hasn’t said he won’t get the vaccine, but the decision to keep things private instead of advocating somehow leaves the door open for speculation. Brooklyn Nets goalie James Harden and Utah Jazz goalie Donovan Mitchell also said they were undecided.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said players would not be required to be vaccinated.

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However, former top players have helped push people to get their shots, including Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell.



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