The LA Lakers basketball star has warned Zlatan ‘I’m the wrong guy to go at’ after the AC Milan striker expressed his political views.
LeBron James has responded to Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s advice that athletes should stay out of politics and on focus on ‘what you’re good at’.
The Swede, who formerly played football stateside with MLS club LA Galaxy, suggested LeBron was taking advantage of his status as a famous basketball player to express his views on non-sporting issues.
“[LeBron] is phenomenal at what he’s doing, but I don’t like it when people have some kind of status, they go and do politics at the same time,” Ibrahimovic told Discovery+ in Sweden.
“Do what you’re good at. Do the category you do. I play football because I’m the best at playing football.
“I don’t do politics. If I would be a political politician, I would do politics. That is the first mistake people do when they become famous and they become in a certain status. Stay out of it. Just do what you do best because it doesn’t look good.”
LeBron responded after Zlatan Ibrahimovic criticized him for his activism.
“I’m kind of the wrong guy to actually go at because I do my homework.” pic.twitter.com/VyKgBrYuiz
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) February 27, 2021
What did LeBron have to say?
In a press conference, the 36-year-old told reporters: “I will never shut up about things that are wrong.
“I preach about my people and I preach about equality. Social injustice, racism, systematic voter suppression, things that go on in our community.
“I was part of my community, I’ve seen the things that are going on. I have a group of 300-plus kids in my school that are going through the same thing, and they need a voice. I am their voice and I use my platform to shed light on things that are going on, not only in my community but around this country and around the world.
LeBron added: “It’s funny that he’s (Ibrahimovic) said that because I believe back in 2018, he’s the same guy who said that when he was back in Sweden, he was talking about the same things.
“Because his last name wasn’t a certain last name, he felt like there was some racism going on while he was out on the pitch… right?
“He did say that, right? Yeah. I thought he said that. I speak from a very educated mind. I’m the wrong guy to go at because I do my homework.”
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