LeBron James responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s criticism of his political activism with a promise that he would never just shut up and dribble.
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar also pointed out that Ibrahimovic clearly did not feel the same way about spotlighting social injustices when the soccer great called out racism in his native Sweden just three years ago.
On Thursday, the AC Milan striker and former LA Galaxy star criticized James and other socially conscious athletes in an interview with Discovery Plus.
Photo: AP
Ibrahimovic called it “a mistake” for James and other athletes to get involved in political causes, saying that they should “just do what you do best, because it doesn’t look good.”
James responded forcefully to Ibrahimovic’s stance after the Lakers’ 102-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” said James, who had 28 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists.
“I preach about my people and I preach about equality, social injustice, racism, systematic voter suppression, things that go on in our community,” James added. “I know what’s going on still, because I have a group of 300-plus kids at my school that’s going through the same thing, and they need a voice, and I’m their voice.”
James funds the I Promise School in his native Akron, Ohio. The third-leading scorer in NBA history also backs numerous initiatives pursuing social justice, voting rights and other progressive causes.
James also made it clear that he was aware of comments that Ibrahimovic, the Swedish-born son of a Bosnian father and a Croatian mother, made in 2018.
“He’s the guy who said in Sweden, he was talking about the same things, because his last name wasn’t a [traditional Swedish] last name, he felt like there was some racism going on when he was out on the pitch,” James said. “I speak from a very educated mind. I’m kind of the wrong guy to actually go at, because I do my homework.”
Ibrahimovic had told Canal Plus that “undercover racism” caused the Swedish media and public to treat him with less respect and reverence: “This exists, I am 100 percent sure, because I am not Andersson or Svensson. If I would be that, trust me, they would defend me even if I would rob a bank.”
James and Ibrahimovic overlapped in Los Angeles for about 16 months from the summer of 2018 until November 2019, when Ibrahimovic went back to Europe.
Dennis Schroder, the Lakers’ German point guard, gave his support to James, confirming that Ibrahimovic’s attitude is decidedly not shared by many European athletes.
“Every athlete can use our platform and try to make change in this world,” Schroder said. “Zlatan, he’s a little different — unique player, unique character.”
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