LeBron James: Neither Cavs nor Warriors want WH invite
In what could be the end of the trend, Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James has come out firing against the Trump administration in regard to championship sports teams visiting the White House.
As is typical of today’s political climate, Trump sparked a furious storm of headlines when he uninvited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles from their scheduled White House visit.
Donald Trump issues a statement saying neither the #Eagles, nor team representatives, are welcome at the White House tomorrow for their Super Bowl visit. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/PXEoZ43XY0
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 4, 2018
As the bickering between the Eagles and the White House devolved into finger-pointing, other sports figures have been chiming in as well.
With the NBA Finals ongoing, it came as little surprise that the NBA players involved were asked about the kerfuffle between Trump and the Eagles. Perhaps even less surprising, James ripped into Trump.
“I know whoever wins this series, no one wants an invite,” James said, per ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
James also made a point to criticize the White House for not inviting the WNBA champion Minnesota Lynx.
LeBron on the Minnesota Lynx not being invited to the White House after their WNBA championship: "It's laughable at this point." pic.twitter.com/PcnxLS7476
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 5, 2018
Considering that Trump famously rescinded an invite to the Golden State Warriors, several of their players echoed similar sentiments.
“I agree with Bron. Pretty sure the way we handled things last year, we’d stay consistent with that,” Warriors guard Steph Curry told Sports Illustrated’s Ben Golliver.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, also piled on.
Steve Kerr on Trump: "It's not surprising. The President has made it pretty clear he's gonna try to divide all of us in this country for political gain." pic.twitter.com/WFCM9lpFiH
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 5, 2018
Interestingly, Warriors All-Star Draymond Green also floated the possibility of just abolishing the tradition altogether.
Draymond on White House visits: “Maybe it’s just a tradition that needs to stop if everybody’s going to be disinvited.” pic.twitter.com/bthylW4WnQ
— AJ Neuharth-Keusch (@tweetAJNK) June 5, 2018
The normally hot-headed Green may have raised the most salient point in regard to all the hand-wringing about White House invitations to sports champions. It’s very fair to ask why this tradition is even necessary if both parties involved insist on politicizing it.
It’s a “tradition” that essentially boils down to a professional sports team being involved in a glorified photo op at the White House. It should be nothing more and nothing less.
Frankly, James also has more pressing matters when it comes to his immediate vocation (which, for the record, is not being a political pundit). The Cavaliers are facing a 2-0 deficit in the NBA Finals. A critical Game 3 will take place on Thursday.
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