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By Aman Sharma
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Charles Barkley ended up agreeing with President Donald Trump about LeBron James, though he made sure nobody mistook it for an alliance.
Before his Philadelphia 76ers debut, a season opener against the New York Knicks, James was seen swinging his arms in a golf-like motion during the anthem. Barkley shared his view on SiriusXM NBA Radio with hosts Justin Termine and Eddie Johnson.
The former NBA star started by brushing aside the president.
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“I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all,” Barkley said.
On James, he didn’t hold back.
“I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing a golf swing in the middle of the anthem. I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important. We live in the greatest country ever where you can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem,” Barkley added.
Barkley also called the country far from perfect and said protest is fine when done respectfully. To him, standing for the anthem means backing the troops.
Trump got there first. On Oct. 22, he wrote on Truth Social that James owed an apology to the “Great American Warriors and Heroes” who died for the flag.
“While listening to our National Anthem, LeBron James disrespects our Country,” Trump wrote.
He revisited the topic at a rally in Iowa, saying he didn’t understand the motion. James shrugged it off.
“It must’ve been a slow news day at the office, you know,” James said.
There was no protest involved. James lined up with the rest of the roster, as he had in each of his previous 1,925 games, before tipping off his 24th NBA season.
James hasn’t publicly answered Barkley, a voice he has long respected. His next anthem in a 76ers uniform will come with plenty of eyes on his arms.
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