President Donald Trump has said basketball star LeBron James disrespected the United States by not standing still while the national anthem was sung.
James, who now plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, appeared to be practising a golf swing and basketball shots as the anthem was performed ahead of the season-opening match against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country!” Trump posted on social media. “LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag.”
James has not responded to the president’s latest comments, but the pair have criticised each other in the past.
Video of the game shows James making the motion of a golf swing as a performer sang the Star-Spangled Banner at New York’s Madison Square Garden. His teammates, who lined up next to him on the court, mostly remained standing with minimal movement.
“I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE,” Trump added, referring to James. “LeBron James should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!”
The 76ers have been contacted for comment, and James has been asked for a response through the team.
A long-running political flashpoint
The US anthem is played or performed at the start of most professional sports games. Players and spectators are expected to stand for it, if they can, and refrain from moving around. Some people sing along.
The tradition has become a political flashpoint before. In 2016, former American football player Colin Kaepernick sat down and later knelt on one knee during the anthem as a demonstration against police brutality and racism in the US.
Trump criticised Kaepernick and later took credit when the athlete could not find a team to play for. Years later, he softened his stance, saying Kaepernick should “get another shot” to play in the NFL.
A feud with James
The president has had a longstanding feud with James, who has publicly endorsed or campaigned for Trump’s political opponents since the 2016 presidential election.
In 2018, Trump suggested James was not intelligent after the athlete said he “would never sit across” from him. That same year, James accused Trump of giving racists “an opportunity to be out and outspoken without fear”.
James has also suggested that Trump’s rhetoric led to a mob storming the US Capitol in 2021 to stop the certification of the result of the 2020 election, which former President Joe Biden won. James had endorsed Biden.
In July, when asked to choose between James and Michael Jordan as the all-time greatest basketball player in history, Trump said he preferred Jordan. “I only like people that like me,” Trump said.
James’s career
James, 41, is the highest point scorer in the history of the National Basketball Association, with more than 40,000 points. He has had a long career and has won the NBA championship with every team he has played for.
In July, he signed a two-year contract with Philadelphia, which is widely expected to be his last as a professional player.