Rick Bowmer / Associated Press
LeBron James, of the Los Angeles Lakers, rejected a suggestion by soccer star Zlatan Ibrahimovic to avoid political topics.
Ibrahimovic said Thursday in an interview with Discovery + Sport it is a “mistake” when important people like James use their influence to engage in political debates.
LeBron responded after the Lakers’ 102-93 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
“I would never be silent about wrong things. I preach about my people and I preach about equality. Social injustice. Racism. Systematic suppression of voters. Things that happen in our community.
“Because I was part of my community at one point and I saw the things that were going on, and I still know what’s going on because I have a group of over 300 kids in my school who are going through the same thing, and they need a voice. And I am their voice. I am their voice and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that may be happening, not just in my community, but across this country and around the world. “
Ibrahimovic, who plays for AC Milan in Italy after a previous spell with James in Los Angeles playing for Galaxy, is one of the best known athletes in the world.
The 39-year-old Swedish native explained he believes that everyone should stay on his trail:
“[LeBron] it’s phenomenal in what it’s doing, but I don’t like it when people have some kind of status, go and do politics at the same time. Do what you do well. Make the category you do. I play football because I am the best football player. I don’t do politics. If I were a political politician, I would do politics.
“This is the big first mistake that people make when they become famous and reach a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look good.”
James disagreed, saying that the mantra “play sports” does not make sense when athletes have the power to encourage positive change. He credited Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Patrick Mahomes and Alvin Kamara of the NFL for their efforts in this regard:
“I am proud to be part of a generation where our voices are heard and the guys speak with an educated mentality. But most importantly, when you speak from the heart, it sounds even louder.
“And we have a lot of guys talking from the heart who didn’t believe they had a voice at any given time, or are now getting into it and see that they can have a voice and that their voice really matters. It makes me proud.”
Neither LeBron nor Zlatan usually gives up on a debate. Both are outspoken individuals who are willing to let you know what’s on your mind, so it’s possible that this verbal exchange will continue for a few more rounds.
That said, it is difficult to imagine any scenario in which James would move away from his longstanding struggle for social justice and racial equality.