Friday nights in August are usually the peak of the mid-summer doldrums around the NBA universe. With the draft, free agency, and Summer League all firmly in our rear-view, there aren’t too many newsworthy items coming down the pike. Needless to say, most of us are sitting around twiddling our thumbs and casually enjoying Drew League highlights.
That’s all fine and good. Unless, for instance, you’re the President of the United States, then you should probably have more pressing matters to worry about than, say, whatever (valid and incisive) criticism LeBron James levied at you during a random CNN appearance.
Not this president, because no slight is ever too small to merit a petulant reaction from Donald Trump. So when LeBron (accurately) pointed out how Trump manages to infect even the realm of pro sports with his divisiveness, Trump did what he always does and became a self-fulfilling prophesy by firing back at LeBron and impotently attempting to insult his intelligence.
The irony, as usual, was totally lost on him. And one of the definitions of irony is an action that has the opposite effect of what was intended, which is exactly what happened when his comments only served to unite the NBA even further in their mutual disgust. Here is just a small sample of what players around the league had to say when they took to Twitter Friday night and Saturday morning in LeBron’s defense.
Tired of you! https://t.co/3vYwL0OyMx
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) August 4, 2018
So let me get this straight: Flint, MI has dirty water still, but you worried about an interview about a man doing good for education and generations of kids in his hometown? Shut your damn mouth! Stop using them twitter fingers and get stuff done for our country with that pen. https://t.co/sEkX3OKaJM
— Karl-Anthony Towns (@KarlTowns) August 4, 2018
A sign of an insecure human being is one who attacks others to make themselves feel better… im just sad that young kids have to see stupid tweets like these and grow up thinking it’s okay… forget everything else Donald your setting a bad example for kids😑 our future 🤡 https://t.co/eg0MECg8xC
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) August 4, 2018
Bra off the K2 again https://t.co/aX0fOZfifI
— Quincy Miller (@qmillertime) August 4, 2018
— Dorell Wright 🏁 (@DWRIGHTWAY1) August 4, 2018
He’s gotta go! https://t.co/rujnO4rbYH
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) August 4, 2018
I've been silent about ALL of the DUMB stuff this man has tweeted but THIS is attacking the NBA brotherhood and I'm not rollin'! What an embarrassment… https://t.co/zHjgokig8R
— Anthony Tolliver (@ATolliver44) August 4, 2018
— Spencer Dinwiddie (@SDinwiddie_25) August 4, 2018
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. Martin Luther King, Jr. @Coach_Diron pic.twitter.com/2MmWBjpAVO
— Ryan Hollins (@TheRyanHollins) August 4, 2018
We love Barack!!!! https://t.co/PvP0IuzsnV
— R.HollisJefferson (@IAmCHAP24) August 4, 2018
Every day is a new low for Trump— Now he’s attacking @donlemon & @KingJames. #Deplorable https://t.co/hGq4cRq0kJ
— Jason Collins (@jasoncollins98) August 4, 2018
Him mad huh 😂😂😂😂
— C.J. Watson (@Quietstorm_32) August 4, 2018
Keep inspiring the masses @KingJames
— C.J. Watson (@Quietstorm_32) August 4, 2018
More of these will certainly roll in over the coming hours/days, because to the surprise of no one, the basketball world is firmly in the corner of LeBron James.
