Several notable NBA players were present during a Zoom conference on Friday, but Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was not one of them.
Led by Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving, several stars reportedly aired their concerns and grievances with the resumption of the 2019-20 NBA campaign set on July 31 at Disney World in Orlando.
Irving strongly opposed the league's decision, claiming he's not with the “systematic racism and the bullshit” and that “something smells a little fishy”.
LeBron James, on the other hand, reportedly doesn't share the same stand as his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate. The 4-time NBA MVP has also been quite vocal about racism and social injustice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the police.
However, The King believes he can still support the cause of the Black Lives Matter movement while continuing his obligations with the league.
Per Sam Amick of The Athletic, James believes his participation in Orlando won't deter his ability to continue inspiring change.
The 35-year-old, who is already considered one of the greatest players of all time, has long been proving that he is “More Than An Athlete”. For instance, LeBron has started a group with other athletes to protect the voting rights of African Americans leading into the November election.
James, meanwhile, wasn't the only NBA player missing the call on Friday. While the memo was sent out to all players, only 80+ players (20 percent) participated in the forum.
LeBron and the Lakers are one of the 22 teams invited to continue their season in Orlando by the end of July. The Lakers hold the best record in the Western Conference (49-14) are one of the frontrunners to win it all this season.
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