Trump call LeBron James 'disgrace' over anthem warm-up video
- Trump share video of James dey move during US anthem before 76ers season opener.
- James shrug am off after win: "E must be slow news day for office."
- Sixers coach Nick Nurse talk say team dey tune out outside noise.
US President Donald Trump don attack basketball star LeBron James over one video wey show James dey do warm-up movements while dem dey play American national anthem before im Philadelphia 76ers open dia season against New York Knicks on Tuesday.
For one post on im Truth Social network, Trump write say James "disrespects our Country" and call am "a TOTAL DISGRACE". He also talk say James suppose apologise to soldiers and odas "who died for the American Flag".
The clip wey Trump share carry im own caption: "LeBron working on his golf swing pregame." E show James dey make sideways swing motions and shooting movements. E no clear exactly when dem film the video.
Trump raise am again for one campaign rally for Iowa on Thursday night, call James actions "a big scandal kind of a story", according to Punch.
James: 'Slow news day'
James, 41, no take the criticism serious. After the Sixers come from behind to beat Cleveland Cavaliers 114-106 for Philadelphia, he tell reporters: "E must be a slow news day at the office."
He dey start a record-extending 24th NBA season, now with im fourth team.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse talk say the president comments na the kind of distraction wey he don train im players to ignore. "I think that goes right in with other outside noise wey we don already get," Nurse talk. He add say the team focus and intent been "outstanding".
No be the first time
Trump don criticise athletes before, especially Black athletes, over how dem dey behave during US anthem. For im first term, he single out NFL star Colin Kaepernick, wey kneel during the "Star-Spangled Banner" to protest racial injustice and police brutality.
Trump and James don exchange criticism before. This latest row no likely to affect Nigerian fans directly, but NBA na one of the most followed foreign leagues for Nigeria, and James remain im biggest name.
For now, the story stay for American political arena. James and the Sixers continue dia season, and the president remarks dey treated by the team as noise from outside the court.
