Perhaps the biggest story to come out of NBA All-Star Weekend was LeBron James’ comments about Israel.
On Sunday, a reporter asked James whether he had a message for fans in Israel and how he assessed Deni Avdija, an Israeli All-Star with the Trail Blazers.
"I’ve been quoted on Deni already and what I thought about his season and I believe he’s an All-Star, and he is an All-Star," James responded.
"If I have fans in Israel, then I hope you’ve been following my career. I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but be better in general in life. So, hopefully, someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there, but I heard great things. I appreciate the question."
The comments drew swift pushback. "What a disgrace LeBron is," said former MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan.
LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers on the court during a Lakers game in 2024-Imagn Images
BET host Marc Lamont Hill reacted as well. "LeBron James just said he’s ‘heard nothing but good things’ about Israel. I’m nonplussed. Seriously. Nonplussed."
At this point, one might expect me to either defend James and Israel or condemn them with a passionate stance. Those appear to be the only two lanes available.
Here’s a better question: Why would anyone care what LeBron thinks about Israel?
James has not been to Israel, as he acknowledged. He has never seriously commented on it. He has no known association with the country. Most likely, he does not know much about it.
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