Photo Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaste

LeBron James Reveals How Barack Obama Guided NBA Players After Boycott

On August 26, the then remaining NBA teams boycotted their most recent playoff games in the wake of Jacob Blake being shot several times in the back as he entered a car where his three children were seated, and due to the ongoing systematic racism in the United States, leaving the continuation of the playoffs in jeopardy.

The season then continued after the NBA came up with with a compromise that ended the players’ boycott.

During the latest episode of ‘The Shop’ LeBron James, who was one of the ringleaders in the discussions, explained that he received some crucial guidance and advice from former President Barack Obama.

Obama advised the players on forming a social justice committee, while also urging them to not give up the platform they have when playing.

Transcript via FTW:

“When Milwaukee did what they did, and rightfully so, we understood that there was no way none of us could go on the floor. We stand as a brotherhood, we are a brotherhood in our league, and we stood with the Milwaukee Bucks and what they wanted to do – but there was a time where we were ready to leave too. The Lakers, myself included, we were ready to leave. And we were trying to figure out, if we leave or if we stay, what is our plan? What is our call for action?

And I’m lucky enough to have a friend, you know, the 44th president, that allowed me and allowed [Chris Paul] and allowed us to get on the phone with him and get guidance. You know, when there’s things going on, when there’s chaos where people don’t know which move to make or how to handle a situation, the best thing you can do is have someone that you can talk to and give you guidance and have that type of leadership. And I’m lucky enough to have a friend that gave us those words of leadership and those words of saying ‘OK, this can be plan of action. This can be something that you guys can ask for, and if we can get that then we can continue to push the needle and you guys can also continue the season as well.”

“We were ready to leave too.”@KingJames on what went down in the NBA bubble after the shooting of Jacob Blake #TheShopHBO #BlackLivesMatter @HBOMax pic.twitter.com/DWEt1HsU64

— UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) October 31, 2020