NBA
In a CNN interview that was broadcast Wednesday night, LeBron James stated that race played a factor in the backlash from the ESPN Special, “The Decision” where James announced his decision to leave the Cleveland Cavaliers and join the Miami Heat.
The two-time reigning NBA MVP’s decision to join the Miami Heat came to light during the ESPN special this summer and was followed by Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert’s response the same night in a statement to fans that James was behaving “narcissistic” and “cowardly.” Rev. Jesse Jackson then joined in claiming that Gilbert saw James as a “runaway slave.”
Last month, in a poll conducted by the Q Scores Company that asked about the most disliked sports figures, LeBron James came in at the top of the list.
During the interview on CNN’s “Primetime” when asked if he thought race was a factor James said, “I think so at times. It’s always, you know, a race factor.”
Even James’ manager Maverick Carter agreed saying, “It definitely played a role in some of the stuff coming out of the media, things that were written for sure.”
In comments made following Miami Heat practice on Thursday, James added, “I’m not going back on my words. People are looking too far into it. I said what I had to say and I’ll continue to move on.”
