Charles Barkley is weighing in on the LeBron James national anthem controversy that even caused President Trump to call out the Philadelphia 76ers star.
On the opening night of the NBA season, the 76ers took the floor, and when “The Star Spangled Banner” played before the contest, people noticed that it sure looked like LeBron was practicing his golf swing during the performance. Given that LeBron is right handed, it could have also just been some kind of a stretching technique, but regardless… should probably save it for after the anthem, eh?
When the POTUS caught wind of the video, he took to Truth Social with this message:
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our country. I said right from the beginning that he’s no good, a TOTAL DISGRACE.”
He also called for LeBron to apologize for the troops… the NBA superstar instead just said it must have been a “slow news day” and shrugged the whole thing off.
That was probably done in an effort to make the story go away, but there’s some people still talking about it almost a week removed. Charles Barkley was recently on SiriusXM NBA Radio, and the former NBA star and current analyst said that – though he doesn’t listen to what President Trump has to say – he agreed with the president’s take on the LeBron-National Anthem matter:
“I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing a golf swing in the middle of the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important. We live in the greatest country ever. You can always protest, but you have to be very careful with the anthem.”
Barkley clearly didn’t care for LeBron acting so nonchalant during the moment that’s supposed to act as a reminder for all that’s been sacrificed to make this country what it is today.
The former NBA All-Star admitted that the country isn’t perfect. But in his mind, that doesn’t give anyone the right or the excuse to zone out (and practice a golf swing/stretch) during “The Star Spangled Banner.”
Though Barkley is a big supporter of free speech, he doesn’t think mimicking the motion of a tee shot counts as such:
“This country, it’s not close to being perfect. It’s a really great, great, great country, but it’s not close to being perfect. You can protest, but I think you have to do it very respectfully. I really believe that.
I look at it (as) I’m supporting the troops when I stand for the national anthem. I’m standing there for free speech. Even though I believe in free speech, I think you have to be very careful.”
That’s a viewpoint that many others share with Charles Barkley, including the President of the United States.
That being said, Sir Charles made a point to distance himself from President Trump, even though they do see eye-to-eye on this LeBron centric controversy:
“I thought what LeBron did was very disrespectful, but I don’t ever pay attention to anything President Trump said.”