WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said basketball star LeBron James is “maybe a racist” when asked how he stacked up against Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. During this discussion in the Oval Office, the President weighed in on the long-standing debate regarding who is the greatest basketball player of all time. While avoiding a breakdown of basketball statistics, the President explicitly sided with Jordan, citing their personal relationship. Trump described Jordan as a friend and someone he plays golf with, calling him a "really good guy."
In contrast, the President cast doubt on James, stating, "I think Lebron is – maybe he’s a racist. Maybe he doesn’t like Trump. But I only like people that like me. So I would say Michael Jordan all the way."
The tension between the President and James follows public criticism from the basketball star. During an interview with Don Lemon on CNN, James accused the President of using sports to divide the country, noting that it was a stance he could not relate to. Trump previously responded to these comments on social media, claiming that James made Lemon look smart despite describing the host as the "dumbest man on television."
The debate over the two players persists among fans, partly because their careers spanned different eras. LeBron James, the National Basketball Association’s all-time leading scorer, is a four-time champion and a four-time Olympic medalist who has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers. On July 24, he made headlines by signing as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. Michael Jordan, who is now retired, secured six championships with the Chicago Bulls during the 1990s and earned two Olympic gold medals, notably taking a two-year hiatus from the sport at the height of his career to pursue baseball.
