Two sports giants, two world fame, two strong personalities… It was inevitable that their exchanges by interposed media were not common.
They made sparks.
It was first Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the AC Milan striker who, in an interview with Discovery Sweden on Thursday, tackled LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers player in the NBA.
While saying he appreciates “King James”, the Swede explained that he believes he shouldn't get involved in politics: “LeBron is phenomenal at what he does, but I don't like it when people with status are involve in politics.
I'm not in politics… It's the first mistake you make when you become famous.
Stay out of it.
Just do what you do best.
The rest does not look good to me.
"
LeBron responds to Zlatan's comments.
pic.twitter.com/BYIfT6To6v
- Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 27, 2021
LeBron James, on the sidelines of a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, Friday (102-93), responded to the former PSG striker.
"I will never be silent on things that I think are not good," he said in a statement to Sports Center.
I point the finger at racism, social injustices, things that affect our community, because I am part of it and I see what is happening there through the 300 children in my school who go through the same things .
They need a voice and I am their voice… There is no way that I will just stick to my sport, because I know how important my voice can be.
"
"We were told that we were neither able nor authorized to talk about anything else"
LeBron James then took aim at Zlatan Ibrahimovic: "It's funny that he said that because I remember that in 2018 he was the same guy who said that when he was in Sweden he was talking about these same subjects. .
Because his last name was unusual, and he sometimes sensed racism when he was in the field.
I speak with an educated mind.
I'm not really the guy to attack because I do my research on my own.
"
The NBA star, very involved in the Black Lives Matter movement, also hammered: “For a long time, we heard that as athletes, we should be grateful to be able to throw a ball, dribble with a ball, hitting with a baseball bat.
We were told that we were neither able nor authorized to talk about anything else.
This is no longer the case today.
And that won't be the case for a long time.
"
