LeBron James Practices Golf Swing During Anthem, Draws Criticism

NBA star LeBron James was seen practicing his golf swing while the United States national anthem played before his debut with the 76ers on Tuesday. Following this incident, President Donald Trump took to social media to label James’ actions a “TOTAL DISGRACE.”

The situation is relatively straightforward: James was engaged in his golf routine during “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and Trump criticized him for it. However, the way ESPN framed the story seemed to gloss over the core issue.

According to ESPN on Thursday, the headline read, “Trump criticizes LeBron James for not standing still during the national anthem.”

This seems, well, a bit generous. Describing his behavior as simply “not standing still” doesn’t capture the gravity of the moment. He was, in fact, practicing his golf swing as the anthem played in the background.

This framing underplays the actions at the heart of the controversy. It appears ESPN wanted to downplay James’ behavior, suggesting it was harmless and labeling Trump’s reaction as exaggerated.

Perhaps that’s what they felt they needed to do—ESPN might think they owe it to James to protect him. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have downplayed the incident as merely failing to “stand still.”

It’s worth noting that athletes who take a knee during the anthem often assert their actions are rooted in protest. James didn’t offer any rationale; it seemed more like an attempt to mock the anthem.

This wasn’t an isolated incident, either. He had previously been seen practicing his swing during the anthem last Christmas. It’s somewhat uncomfortable, considering this is a prominent American athlete who had criticized NBA executive Daryl Morey for expressing support for the Hong Kong protesters, now acting this way during the national anthem.

At this point in his career, the NBA might need to evaluate how much LeBron still adds to its brand. He turns 42 in December and has averaged 15 points per game in his first two outings this season. Unsurprisingly, his performance reflects the natural decline that comes with age.

While James’ legacy as one of the greatest players in NBA history is secure, his recent behavior, coupled with his anti-American sentiments, has begun to overshadow his contributions to the game.