You just knew LeBron James would have something to say about another athlete calling him out.
After a much needed win against Portland, the Lakers superstar was asked about being the target of some harsh words from Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic this week.
“I would never shut up about things that are wrong,” James told reporters following the Lakers’ 102-93 win on Friday night. “I preach about my people and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic voter suppression. Things that go on in our community.
“Because I was a part of my community at one point and saw the things that was going on and I know what’s going on still because I have a group of 300-plus kids at my school that are going through the same thing and they need a voice. And I’m their voice. I’m their voice and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that may be going on, not only in my community, but around this country and around the world.
“So, there’s no way I would ever just stick to sports because I understand how this platform and how powerful my voice is.”
Ibrahimovic told James to “do what you’re good at.”
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“[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he’s doing, but I don’t like when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time,” Ibrahimovic said in an interview with Discovery+ Sweden. “Do what you’re good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I’m the best at playing football. I don’t do politics. If I would be a political politician, I would do politics.
“That is the big first mistake people do when they become famous and they become in a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look good.”
The Lakers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 102-93 victory against the Blazers. James nothced 28 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks and 4 steals in the victory.
