#201718

LeBron James speaking at Cavaliers Media Day (Part 2) | October 6, 2017 - Full Press Conference: Video | Transcript | Part 1 -  LeBron James spoke for an extended period at Cleveland Cavaliers media day. Below are his complete comments on President Trump, the Warriors not visiting the White House, and social issues facing America today. 

What about Ohio voters, where Trump won? - Well, I mean, that’s a great question. At the end of the day, like I said, I don’t think a lot of people was educated. And I think that’s one of the biggest problems that we have that when it becomes vote time, that people are just not educated on either the individual or what’s actually going on in the state of the world right now. Not that particular state, but in the state of the world. I don’t think a lot of people are educated. And they make choices and say things that are uneducated. And I’m saying that the people of Ohio wasn’t educated? Am I saying that some of the other states that voted for him was uneducated? They could have been or they could not have been. But that doesn’t mean that it was the right choice.

“For me personally, my voice is more important than my knee. … I don’t believe I have to get on my knee to even further what I’m talking about.”

I mean, you can go back into the history of time in sports and say the same thing because we keep bringing sports and politics into it. So, you can look back at some of the greatest drafts of all time and say that, 'OK, did the Trail Blazers make the right choice when they took Sam Bowie?’ I mean, can we all sit up here and say that they should have taken Michael Jordan? Yes, or no? So, for me as a professional athlete in this state and even though this state voted for Trump, that doesn’t stop me inspiring the people of this state and inspiring the youth. Because I would be even more at wrong if I started to pound the people of Ohio. That makes zero sense. My job is and my calling is much bigger than that guy. I don’t even like saying his name. So while I have this platform, I will continue to inspire the state of Ohio no only by what I do on the floor but also by putting 1300 kids into school and spending almost $45 million. 

Are you risking money by taking this position and alienating fans? - I can only speak for myself. I can’t speak for none other. I definitely know the people that’s paved the way for myself today. You talk about guys like Muhammad Ali and Jim Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Russell and Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson and Austin Carr. Those guys paved the way for guys like myself where I can feel confident about my words. I can feel confident about what I say and hopefully that it hits home for somebody. I don’t really get involved into the money issue thing. Because I’m doing OK for myself. I’m doing OK for myself. My family is doing OK. But even if we weren’t doing OK financially, I would still be trying to find a way to just better the youth and inspire the youth. But like I said, I can only speak for myself. 

Will you take a knee during anthem? - We all have the right to express our feelings about whatever is going on at that particular time. I respect that from my teammate and I respect that from anybody else in the league. For me personally, my voice is more important than my knee. I talk (to media) every single day, what I say I think it should hit home for a lot of people. I don’t believe I have to get on my knee to even further what I’m talking about. I don’t down anybody that is doing anything in the NFL. I salute Colin Kaepernick for being as powerful as he was and being the one who had to fall on his sword unfortunately. I hate that and I hope – I wish I owned an NFL team right now I’d sign him today. But I’m not. But I think my voice what I do in my community and what I stand for, I don’t think I have to show more by getting on a knee or doing something else. It’s powerful what all these athletes are doing. We even had the first baseball player do it two nights ago, that’s phenomenal. I commend these guys and I commend guys who are trying to make a difference. 

Because it’s not about the disrespect of the flag and our military and everybody has made this world free. It is about equality and people having the option and the freedom to speak upon things they feel that aren’t just. It’s not about the disrespect of the flag. I hope anybody that has anyone in the military - I do not - I do understand this is not a disrespect to the men and women who have served our world to help us become free. It’s not about that. The people that are trying to divide us to say it’s disrespect to the military families and the people who served our country. It is not about that, it’s the furthest thing from that.