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NBA Champion James says he won’t stop talking about ‘things that are wrong’ after criticism from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Quadruple NBA champion LeBron James hit back at Swedish football star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, saying there was no reason he couldn’t have such a big effect on the basketball court as he did on the one. -this.
James has been a force for social change in the United States, focusing much of his attention on police brutality and racial injustice against African Americans.
He has spoken openly about the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last year and against former President Donald Trump, and he has worked with other NBA stars to try to get black people to vote in the elections. recent US elections which brought Joe Biden to power.
“I’m talking about a very educated mind. I’m kind of the wrong guy to go to because I’m doing my homework, ”James said on Friday after the Los Angeles Lakers’ 102-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
James was responding to Ibrahimovic’s comments earlier this week that athletes should “stay away” from politics, mentioning James by name and calling him for his political activism.
“[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he does, but I don’t like when people have status, they’re going to be in politics at the same time, ”Ibrahimovic said.
Speaking in a UEFA interview for Discovery + in Sweden, the outspoken forward said it was a “mistake” when the athletes walked out of their lane.
“I’m not in politics… It’s the first mistake people make when they get famous and gain status. Stay out of it. Do what you do best because it doesn’t look right, ”Ibrahimovic said.
‘Powerful voice
James helped found the organization More Than a Vote which increased voter turnout in black areas. The group organized more than 40,000 volunteers to work at the polls in the November federal election.
James says winning championships is one thing, but inspiring and empowering people and bringing Americans together is just as rewarding.
“At the end of the day, I would never shut up about things that were wrong. I preach on my people and I preach on equality, social injustice, racism, the suppression of voters. Things that are happening in our community, ”said James.
“There’s no way I’m sticking to sports. I know how powerful my voice is.
James has said he likes to think he’s the start of something much bigger in the sport.
“You see young men talking about things they think are unfair,” he said.
“For a long time we’ve heard that as athletes you should be thankful that you can throw a ball, dribble a ball, swing a baseball bat. You shouldn’t be able to talk about anything else ”.
“This is no longer the case. It won’t be for a long time.
James also clarified that he was aware of comments made in 2018 by Ibrahimovic, the Swedish son of a Bosnian father and Croatian mother.
“This is the guy who said in Sweden, he was talking about the same things, because his last name was not a [traditional Swedish] last name, he felt there was racism when he was on the pitch, ”James said.
Indeed, Ibrahimovic told Canal Plus that “undercover racism” had caused the media and the Swedish public to treat it with less respect and respect.
“It exists, I’m 100% sure of it because I’m neither Andersson nor Svensson. If I was like that, believe me, they would defend me even if I rob a bank.
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