Obamas, Hillary Clinton support LeBron James
Statements of support continued to pour in on NBA great LeBron James for opening the school, which will serve 240 third- and fourth-graders identified as behind in critical academic areas and other factors.
One such support that will be most likely make James happy came from no less than former US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle as well as another ex-First Lady Hillary Clinton.
Mrs. Obama took to Twitter on Tuesday to praise James on behalf of both herself and her husband. She not only praised James for the school opening he named “I Promise” but also the many social works championed by the NBA superstar.
Interestingly, the former First Lady’s tweet came after James engaged the current occupant of the White House in a verbal tussle in the media.
LeBron James (23) blocks Stephen Curry (30) during an NBA game. AFP FILE PHOTO
“Barack Obama and I are so proud of King James and I PROMISE School. Kids in Akron and across the US are lucky to have you as a role model on and off the court. Keep using your platform for good and giving our kids a chance to shoot for the stars,“ Mrs. Obama’s twit said.
LeBron has immense respect for the Obama family and he, most likely, appreciated the sentiment.
James has long been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, once even referring to the President as ‘bum’ in a tweet. James again criticized the president this week for using sports to divide people.
Mrs. Clinton, better half of ex-President Bill Clinton and a former Democratic presidential nominee, Hillary, offered her support to LeBron on Saturday after President Donald Trump attacked him on Twitter, calling James a “world class athlete and a class act.”
“James is a great family man, incredible ballplayer, gives back to his community, and isn’t afraid to speak his mind,” Clinton tweeted on Saturday. “We need more like him in this world.”
Trump went after James in a tweet late Friday night, saying he was “just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon” who “made LeBron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.”
Lemon had interviewed James about the school for at-risk youth the NBA player opened in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
James was also critical of the president during the interview, saying Trump was using sports to “divide” the country.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is in Johannesburg, South Africa for the third NBA Africa Game in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, likewise, responded to President Trump’s tweet about James and CNN’s Don Lemo
Statement to USA TODAY Sports from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who is in Johannesburg, South Africa for the third NBA Africa Game (in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation), in response to President Trump’s tweet about LeBron James and CNN’s Don Lemon.
“LeBron is one of the all-time greatest NBA [layers and one of the most accomplished athletes. He runs a very successful media company. He’s sent hundreds of students to college and just opened a school in Akron where all students will receive free tuition, meals and transportation. I greatly admire his intelligence and business acumen and have enormous respect and appreciation for what he does in his community.”
Others have earlier shown support for James since Trump’s tweet as Michael Jordan and current First Lady herself Melania Trump.
Back-to-back NBA MVP Steph Curry of champion Golden State Warriors also expressed support for James: ‘Keep doing you’.
Curry and LeBron have been rivals on the court in the last four NBA Finals. Off the court, the two have continually supported each other.
First, there was the famous ‘U bum’ tweet James sent out to President Trump to back Curry and the Warriors for not going to the White House.
“U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain’t going! So therefore ain’t no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up”!
In the past week, Curry has twice voiced his encouragement for James’ accomplishments off the court. The Warriors star called James’ efforts on his I Promise school “freaking amazing.”
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