Trump Tags LeBron ‘Racist’ Following NBA Legend’s Move to 76ers

President Donald Trump has labelled basketball superstar LeBron James “maybe a racist” during a White House press conference, just hours after James announced he would join the Philadelphia 76ers for his record 24th NBA season.

When Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Trump to choose between Michael Jordan and LeBron James in the long-running greatest-of-all-time debate, the president did not hesitate. “Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine. I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy,” Trump said. He then added, “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, who turned 41 in December, announced on July 24 that he would sign a two-year, $8 million veteran minimum contract with the Philadelphia 76ers. “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energise a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time,” James wrote on social media. He joins a star-studded roster featuring Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown.

The four-time NBA champion has been a vocal critic of Trump for nearly a decade. James endorsed Hillary Clinton in 2016, Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024. In 2017, he called Trump “a bum” after the president withdrew a White House invitation to the Golden State Warriors.

A representative for James declined to comment on Trump’s remarks. The NBA star is the league’s all-time leading scorer and will now chase a fifth championship with Philadelphia, a franchise that has not won an NBA title since 1983.