LeBron James Is Posting Triple Doubles And Keeping Focus On Racial Justice In Great Playoff Performance

On the court, LeBron James and the Lakers took a commanding series lead Monday in their first-round matchup against the Trail Blazers. Off the court, James spoke poignantly about the recent police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, which has ignited fresh anti-racism protests across the U.S.

In other words, James is both dribbling and speaking out. It is an incredible balancing act.

Some NBA players pushed back against the league’s plan to resume its season last month in Orlando, Fla., citing nationwide racial unrest. Kyrie Irving led a coalition of players who were skeptical of the restart, as the perennial All-Star thought the league should focus all of its attention on racial justice causes in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing.

James, conversely, reportedly pushed to keep playing. The all-time great was adamant his pursuit of a fourth championship would not take away from his ability to inspire change, according to Sam Amick of The Athletic. Late this spring, James started his More Than a Vote campaign, a coalition of athletes fighting against voter suppression. This week, the group announced an effort to recruit young people to work at polling locations, in order to combat the expected reduction of poll workers due to the coronavirus.

Since arriving to the NBA Bubble, James has used his media availabilities to speak out about issues of police violence against Black people. He’s spoken at length about the case of Breonna Taylor, who was unarmed when she was killed in her apartment by police in Louisville, Kentucky last March. On Monday, James expressed outrage about the use of force on Blake, who was shot by police as he tried to enter the driver’s side door to his car. Police were responding to a domestic disturbance. Blake is now paralyzed from the waist down.

“I know people get tired of hearing me say it, but we are scared as Black people in America,” James told reporters, via ESPN. “If you’re sitting here and telling me that there was no way to subdue that gentleman or detain him or just before the firing of guns, then you’re sitting here and lying to not only me, but you’re lying to every African American, every Black person in the community, because we see it over and over and over.”

James’ harrowing words will surely be repeated across newscasts and news tickers all over the U.S. And they came following the Lakers’ Game 4 win over the Trail Blazers, giving Los Angeles a 3-1 series lead.

The Milwaukee Bucks, who hold the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference and play just 40 miles from Kenosha, also took a 3-1 lead Monday in the first-round series, defeating the Magic. Though they dominated on the court, head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters the shooting of Blake overshadows everything they’re doing on the court.

Bucks point guard George Hill expressed frustration about being at the Walt Disney World Resort after another incident of police violence. “We can’t do anything here,” he said to reporters, via NBA.com. “We shouldn’t have even came to this damn place, to be honest. I think coming here just took all the focal points off what the issues are.”

When asked about Hill’s remarks, James restated his belief that he can still play basketball and use his platform for good. It must a taxing endeavor, given the amount of focus it takes to compete for a championship. Remember, James famously logs off social media during the playoffs, though he’s stayed online this summer. And his play hasn’t suffered one bit, at least through four playoff contests. He’s averaging a triple-double (25.3 points, 10.3 rebounds and 10.3 assists per game).

It is a remarkable accomplishment, and James is not alone. Chris Paul also spoke about the Blake shooting literally seconds after Oklahoma City’s Game 4 victory over the Houston Rockets, while delivering a call to democratic action. “I just want to send my prayers out to Jacob Blake and their family,” he said on TNT. “The things we decided to come down here to play for, and we said we’re going to speak on the social injustice and the things that continue to happen to our people. It’s not right. It’s not right. So the win is good, but voting is real. I’m going to challenge all my NBA guys, other sports guys: Let’s try to get our entire teams registered to vote.”

Throughout sports history, players who amplify their political or social stances have always been met with questions about their dedication. It gives evaluators and pundits an easy scapegoat when production drops.

Here’s hoping the exceptional performances of James and other players in the NBA Bubble finally eradicates that lazy trope from the sports lexicon. Even if the Lakers fall short of the championship, this is still James’ best playoff performance yet.


Speak Your Mind

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Get in Touch

350FansLike
100FollowersFollow
281FollowersFollow
150FollowersFollow

Recommend for You

Oh hi there 👋
It’s nice to meet you.

Subscribe and receive our weekly newsletter packed with awesome articles that really matters to you!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

You might also like

A Timeline Of Trump’s Misleading 9/11 Claims

Topline President Trump has a history of making unfounded claims and  misleading statements about...

The Weird Stuff We’re Buying On Amazon Gives Insight...

It’s been a long time - perhaps in the whole history of online shopping...

Will Donald Trump Ever Play Golf With Tom Brady...

TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND - JULY 15: U.S. President Donald Trump...

For $30 Million, The Los Angeles Mansion That Prince...

Prince once stayed at this massive Los Angeles mansion...