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Rick Bowmer / Associated Press
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers rejected a suggestion by football superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic to avoid political topics.
Ibrahimovic said Thursday in an interview with Discovery + Sport it is a “mistake” when figures like James use their influence to get involved in political debates.
LeBron responded after the Lakers’ 102-93 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
“I would never be silent about things that are wrong. I preach on my people and I preach on equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic removal of voters. What is happening in our community.
“Because I was part of my community at one point and saw the things that were going on, and I know what is still going on because I have a group of over 300 children in my school who are going through the same thing, and they need a voice. And I am their voice. I am their voice, and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that is happening, not only in my community, but in this country and the world. “
Ibrahimovic, who plays for AC Milan in Italy after a previous stint alongside James in Los Angeles for the Galaxy, is one of the world’s best-known athletes.
From Sweden, 39 years old Explain he believes everyone should stay on their way:
“[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. Do what you’re good at. Make the category you do. I play soccer because I’m the best in soccer. I don’t play politics. If I were a political politician, I would be in politics.
“This is the big first mistake people make when they get famous and become in a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look like it. good.”
James disagreed, saying the mantra “stick to the sport” doesn’t make sense when athletes have the power to encourage positive change. He thanked Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Patrick Mahomes and Alvin Kamara of the NFL for their efforts in this regard:
“It makes me proud to be part of a generation where our voices are heard and guys speak with an educated mindset. But more importantly, when you speak with your heart, it sounds even louder.
“And we have a lot of heart-talking guys who didn’t believe they had a voice at one point, or now they come in and they see that they can have a voice and that their voice really matters. It makes me proud. . “
Neither LeBron nor Zlatan usually back down after a debate. They’re both straightforward individuals who are ready to let you know what they think, so it’s possible that this verbal exchange will take a few more turns.
That said, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where James would stray from his long-standing fight for social justice and racial equality.
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