TORONTO — After endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election in a social media post on Thursday, Lakers star LeBron James explained his decision after the team’s 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Friday night.
“I was going to do it the day of the game in Cleveland [on Wednesday] but I didn’t want to overshadow the whole hoopla of me and Bronny [James] going back home,” LeBron explained. “That’s when I planned on doing it. I figured [Thursday] would be a good day.
“Everything was kind of silent and I wanted to make sure that it was seen and heard and heard with force. So, having a daughter, having a wife, having a mother and things of that nature, what she believes in when it comes to women’s rights, when it comes to the future with my kids and where I see our country should be, I feel like that endorsement is only right.”
LeBron posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram: “What are we even talking about here?? When I think about my kids and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!”
The post has a video that starts with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe making a racist joke at a rally for former President Donald Trump on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York. The video ends with the phrase “Hate Takes Us Back” typed out.
James endorsed President Joe Biden in the 2020 election and Hillary Clinton ahead of the 2016 election.
“And c’mon, I mean, you guys know me,” James said. “I damn sure wasn’t going the other way.”
In June 2020, James formed More Than a Vote, a nonprofit organization fighting for Black American’s voting rights and advocating criminal justice reform in the U.S.
Nneka Ogwumike, a nine-time WNBA All-Star, took over the organization’s leadership earlier this year, focusing its attention on reproductive rights ahead of this year’s election cycle.
“It all started with the ‘shut up and dribble’ thing, obviously,” James said. “And to be in a position where you can have some influence and you have a lot of people who want to be in a position to have influence as well to be able to speak outside of their realm. If it’s sports or music or movies or whatever it is, whatever the industry is, to be able to have a platform where I was able to gather a lot of men and women to speak out from that moment.
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“And then the ‘More Than a Vote’ campaign, obviously, and initiative was great. And I’m even grateful now that it’s still going. I got some beautiful ladies that’s holding that down right now. Nneka Ogwumike is a really good dear friend and she’s picked a great lineup of great people to be able to continue that because we know how important it is. So I’m very humbled to be able to have that, like you said, that year and then have it be able to continue to go now.”
VANDERBILT UPDATE
Coach JJ Redick gave an update on forward Jarred Vanderbilt before Friday’s game.
Vanderbilt had surgery on both his feet in May after missing the last two months of the 2023-24 season.
“He’s progressing,” Redick said. “He’s had some minor discomfort, no setbacks. The discomfort is normal as he’s ramped up his activities on the court, given that he’s coming off two surgeries.
“But he’s progressing. But I don’t think he’s a day or two away from playing. We’ll have another update in a week or so.”