LeBron James went after President Donald Trump in an emotional speech on Tuesday night, calling him the "so-called president" while calling for unity in light of the Charlottesville tragedy.
Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James.(AP Photo/File)
Standing on stage before students, parents and families connected to his foundation at the end of a daylong event at Cedar Point Amusement Park, James said he wanted to spend a moment addressing the weekend's violent protests, where a woman was killed amid ugly clashes between far-right extremists and protesters out to stop them.
President Donald Trump speaks to the media in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York, Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2017. (AP Photo)
While holding his baby daughter, James turned his thoughts to the violence.
"I know there's a lot of tragic things happening in Charlottesville (Virginia)," James said. "I just want to speak on it right now. I have this platform and I'm somebody that has a voice of command and the only way for us to get better as a society and for us to get better as people is love. And that's the only way we're going to be able to conquer something as one. It's not about the guy that's the so-called president of the United States, or whatever the case."
Earlier in the day, the NBA superstar blasted Trump on Twitter after the president appeared to equate the actions of white supremacists and those protesting them.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James. (AP Photo/File)
James has been outspoken on his political beliefs in the past, and he took advantage of his first public appearance since the NBA Finals, to call out Trump's actions.
"It's not about a teacher that you don't feel like cares about what's going on with you every day," James continued. "It's not about people that you just don't feel like want to give the best energy and effort to you. It's about us. It's about us looking in the mirror. Kids all the way up to the adults. All of us looking in the mirror and saying, 'What can we do better to help change?' And if we can all do that and give 110 percent, then that's all you can ask for.
"So, shout out to the innocent people in Charlottesville (Virginia) and shout out to everybody across the world that just want to be great and just want to love. Thank you, and I love you all."
James was joined on stage by his three children, singers Usher and Jordin Sparks, who performed during the event, and Cavaliers teammate J.R. Smith.
The three-time champion flew to New York earlier Tuesday to play in pickup games with Warriors star Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks.
This isn't the first time James has used his status to take on social issues — or take a swipe at Trump.
During the season, James was asked if the All-Star voting was "goofy" because players were involved in the balloting.
"There's always goofy votes," James quipped. "I mean, Donald Trump is our president."
He has taken a far more serious tone on other matters. When he was with Miami, James and his teammates wore hooded sweatshirts to protest the deadly shooting of teenager Trayvon Martin. He also wore an "I Can't Breathe" T-shirt when the Cavaliers were in Brooklyn as a tribute to Eric Garner, who had been choked to death in a struggle with police.
During last year's ESPYs, James stood on stage with Anthony and fellow All-Stars Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade to demand social change.
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LOS ANGELES (AP) — With one championship ring and a tenacious veteran core, the Denver Nuggets are a daunting matchup for any opponent in the NBA.
They're clearly a particular nightmare for LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers, who are one game away from an early summer after Denver stretched its winning streak in this lopsided rivalry to a whopping 11 games.
Aaron Gordon had a playoff career-high 29 points and 15 rebounds, Nikola Jokic added 24 points, 15 rebounds and nine assists, and the Nuggets moved to the brink of the second round with a 112-105 victory over the Lakers in Game 3 of their first-round series Thursday night.
Jamal Murray scored 22 points to help the defending NBA champion Nuggets win their seventh straight playoff meeting with James and the Lakers in dominating style. Denver has rallied from a double-digit deficit in all three games, and the Nuggets went out of their way after Game 3 to praise an opponent they've utterly dominated recently.
“I think every game is tougher and tougher,” Jokic said. “They were up 20 in Denver, they were up 12 today in the first half, but I think it’s really hard to play against the same team over and over again. ... That’s a really tough team, and every game is really interesting and tough to win. Every game we’re playing catch-up, and they’re really talented. It’s really hard to close a team out.”
Michael Porter Jr. added 20 points for Denver, which took control in the third quarter and cruised through the final minutes to its fifth straight road win over Los Angeles, starting with its sweep of last season's Western Conference finals.
“It’s fun to win games,” Porter said. “I don’t think anybody besides the media looks at the 11 (straight victories), because it’s hard. It’s not easy to beat this team. Last game, coming back from 20 points, we had to scratch and claw. So it’s not easy. But of course we like winning, and the more times we can win the better.”
Game 4 is Saturday night in Los Angeles. No NBA team has ever rallied from an 0-3 playoff deficit.
Anthony Davis had 33 points and 15 rebounds, and James added 26 points and nine assists for the Lakers, who haven't beaten the Nuggets since Dec. 16, 2022 — and have rarely looked capable of ending that streak.
“You come out with the mindset, ‘Let’s get one, force a Game 5, and then we go from there,’” James said. “As long as you still have life, then you obviously have belief. I just think you play ’til the wheels fall off. That’s what it’s always about for me. That’s a mindset, and I know (Davis) feels the same way.”
Austin Reaves scored 22 points for Los Angeles, which surged into the postseason with largely outstanding play since the holidays, capped by an impressive play-in win over New Orleans to snatch the seventh seed. The Lakers had won 12 of 15 heading into this series — but now they're one loss away from failing to win a playoff round for the third time in four years since their 2020 NBA title.
“They have a championship confidence,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said about the Nuggets. “That starting group has been together for a long time. Their net rating is off the charts as a starting group. They had guys step up and make plays.”
Davis and James were outstanding once again, but they can't do it alone. The Lakers missed 15 of their first 16 3-point attempts in Game 3, going nearly 34 minutes between 3-point buckets.
D’Angelo Russell went scoreless in 24 minutes of play for the Lakers, who got only two assists out of their inconsistent third option on offense. Russell missed all seven of his shots, including six 3-point attempts.
Meanwhile, Gordon had the highest-scoring playoff game of his 10 NBA seasons, highlighted by 10 points in the third quarter while Denver took control. Jokic also made nine of his 13 shots and barely missed his 17th career postseason triple-double.
The second-seeded Nuggets began their title defense with two wins in Denver, pulling away late in Game 1 before snatching Game 2 with a furious comeback capped by Murray’s winning jumper at the buzzer.
After blowing a 20-point lead in the second half of Game 2, the seventh-seeded Lakers were left feeling frustrated, outmanned — and occasionally confused, according to Davis, who said the Lakers sometimes don’t know what they’re doing when faced with Denver’s offensive versatility.
None of those problems had been alleviated in Game 3, and now the Lakers are one loss away from the end of James' remarkable 21st NBA season. Los Angeles hadn't played a home game in 16 days, and it has won just once at home since March 24.
“Just last season, I was up 3-0 and ended up in a Game 7,” said Lakers guard Gabe Vincent, who played for the Miami Heat last season when they nearly blew a 3-0 lead on Boston. “Crazier things have happened.”
But the Nuggets went 16-4 in last season’s playoffs, and they appear capable of another steamroll through the postseason after comfortably handling the talented Lakers through three games.
Russell's disappearing act was compounded by another quiet game from starter Rui Hachimura, who had only five points while taking four shots in 28 minutes.
Denver turned a small halftime deficit into a 10-point lead with a 24-10 run to start the second half led by Gordon and Murray, who combined for 19 points in the third quarter. The Lakers never got closer than eight points down the stretch in the fourth quarter.
While the Lakers' fans left the building in the final minutes, a small group in the Lakers' end chanted “Fire Darvin!”
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson (8) fouls Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) falls on top of Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon, left, high-fives guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots against tLos Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) dunks during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) defends against Los Angeles Lakers forward Anthony Davis (3) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves (15) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic (15) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Gabe Vincent (7) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) disputes a foul call with referee Marc Davis (8) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Denver Nuggets in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. (1) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers forward Rui Hachimura (28) during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Denver Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon (50) dunks during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Los Angeles, Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
