NBA athletes are often lauded for their on-court exploits, but their offseason efforts are often just as impressive, if not more. This hasn't been any more clear than it was last month when LeBron James opened up his I Promise School, giving 300 kids in his hometown of Akron an opportunity to defeat the odds of poverty and strive for a better future.
Longtime rival Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors noted his off-court efforts, having defended James in four straight NBA Finals.
“LeBron has accomplished a great thing, not just as an African-American athlete but as an athlete in general,” Iguodala said of James, according to Ben Golliver of Sports Illustrated. “I saw a picture of the school. It’s not just African-American kids, it’s kids of all colors. When you’ve got LeBron doing stuff that has never done before, it sets the bar so high and encourages athletes to give back to the communities we came from. Kevin Durant built a youth sports facility, basketball courts and a track for a school. That sets a great precedent.”
As prisoners of the moment, many built a pedestal for James, comparing his charitable efforts to those of Michael Jordan, who also has a giant brand and reputation established throughout a long NBA career.
Iguodala noted Jordan has done equally great efforts throughout time but has rather kept them in the down-low, without drawing attention to himself.
“MJ has done a lot of great things for the community as well,” said Iguodala. “If you look at the Jordan Brand, they have a history of giving out full scholarships. MJ doesn’t put his name out there when it comes to his philanthropic endeavors. That’s fine. He’s always been quiet in the media. He likes to keep the attention off himself. MJ said he supported LeBron. As athletes, that’s all we wanted to hear.”
Jordan publicly said he supported James' cause after President Donald Trump condemned LeBron for an interview with CNN's Don Lemon in which he said he would never sit in front of Trump.
Follow Us
Subscribe