For as loud and proud as LeBron James is on the basketball court, his voice is almost equally as powerful in the political sphere as well.
With so much pull and influence over the community, it is often that James inserts himself into the conversation of many political, cultural, and racial topics involving the United States. During the Trump Presidency, he did not hold back in his criticism and even went so far as to show support for his election-day opponent, Joe Biden.
Obviously, the way James has been speaking about these “issues” doesn’t strike everyone the right way, and international soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic is among that group. In a recent chat with the media, he spoke out against the activity of the “King.”
“He’s phenomenal, but I don’t like when people with a ‘status’ speak about politics. Do what you’re good doing,” Ibrahimovic said. “I play football because I’m the best playing football, I’m no politician. If I’d been a politician, I would be doing politics. This is the first mistake famous people do when they become famous: for me it is better to avoid certain topics and do what you’re good doing, otherwise you risk doing something wrongly.”
Zlatan believes LeBron should stay out of politics. pic.twitter.com/MKkZbMlzCW
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 26, 2021
No matter which side you’re on, those words certainly do make sense in some respect. Being an NBA basketball star doesn’t necessarily make you an expert at politics. Then again, are they any less qualified to talk about it than the media, or anybody else who’s not a politician?
Guys as big as LeBron have a certain platform, and they can educate themselves on certain topics and issues to spread a particular idea that they deem worthy. In a sense, LeBron almost has an obligation to use his platform that way, and he certainly isn’t the first to do it. — as Richard Jefferson kindly pointed out on Twitter.
Mohammed Ali, Bill Russell, Jim Brown, Billy Jean King, Megan Rapinoe, Kareem, Arthur Ashe, Jesse Owens…. Would Disagree. SHOULD I CONTINUE? https://t.co/JCIlZ1Qjby
— Richard Jefferson (@Rjeff24) February 26, 2021
Needless to say, there is a case for both sides of this debate. In the end, though, it’s important for fans to know what while it’s okay to look up to LeBron and take stock in his political beliefs, he’s not really any more qualified to talk about it than anyone else.
And what he decides to do after his basketball career is entirely up to him.
