DONALD TRUMP has reignited his bitter feud with LeBron James by saying “maybe he’s a racist”, in a shock outburst.
James, 41, announced he would be continuing his glittering basketball career with the Philadelphia 76ers after signing a two-year, $8m contract including a player option.
US president Donald Trump said ‘maybe he’s a racist’ after being asked if LeBron James was the ‘best ever’ Credit: Reuters
The outburst came after James completed a move to the 76ers Credit: Getty
He is regarded by many as the GOAT of the NBA.
However, when asked whether James was the “best ever” in a White House news conference, President Trump showed his loyalties in the basketball GOAT debate were behind six-time NBA champion, Michael Jordan.
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Trump said: “Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine.
“I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy.”
He then launched a stunning attack on James as he continued: “I think LeBron is, maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know.
“I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.”
James is yet to issue a public response to the comment, but has not seen eye-to-eye with Trump for some time.
The four-time NBA champion and four-time MVP has endorsed all three candidates that have run against Trump in presidential election campaigns; Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Ohio-born James was critical of Trump after he withdrew a White House invitation to then NBA champion Golden State Warriors in 2017, labelling him as “a bum” as sport and politics collided.
In 2018 James told CNN he believed the president was “trying to divide us”, adding: “He’s dividing us, and what I’ve noticed over the last few months is that he’s kind of used sports to kind of divide us.”
Trump responded by attacking James’ intelligence.
James has won NBA titles with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Los Angeles Lakers.
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He is hoping to land a fifth ring now he has joined the 76ers.
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, he said: “This is my last decision.
“I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?
“I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind.
“I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.
“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”
