Former NBA head coach George Karl has called on Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James to speak up ahead of the upcoming presidential election in the United States.
Need your voice and support @KingJames https://t.co/G33s2DRTuz
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) October 18, 2024
Karl has made it clear that he’s rooting for Kamala Harris — the Democratic nominee for president — to win next month’s election.
I won a lot of basketball games and lost a lot too. Especially to Michael and Kobe.
We’re not losing this upcoming game! I’m all in on Kamala and the Coach! #hoopsforharris #coachwalz pic.twitter.com/32ussWr0uU
— George Karl (@CoachKarl22) August 13, 2024
While James has yet to endorse a candidate, some of his past comments on Donald Trump suggest that he doesn’t think all that highly of the Republican nominee for president. James referred to Trump as a “bum” back when he was in office in 2017 and implied that the tradition of visiting the White House after winning an NBA title was an honor until he “showed up.”
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
Harris has seemingly ingratiated herself with folks around NBA circles of late. She appeared on the All The Smoke podcast — hosted by a couple of former NBA players in Stephen Jackson and Matt Barnes — not all that long ago.
One of the more notable moments from the podcast episode came when Harris admitted that she couldn’t sleep after she found out Joe Biden was dropping out of the race, so she decided to cook.
“From the time that the president called me and told me he wasn’t running, I mean, everything was in speedy, speedy motion,” Harris said. “And I was not sleeping so well. That one morning, I just – I mean I had, I don’t know, a few hours sleep, and I like to sleep. I just got up. I just went out and got a pork roast and started marinating it. And my family happened to be in town so they were very happy about the whole situation. But I just got up and started – everybody’s asleep – I just got up and started cooking.”
Plus, one of the league’s most recognizable faces in Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry spoke last month on the privilege of supporting her. Curry has claimed that he will support Harris partly due to her stance on abortion, which is a controversial subject in the country at the moment. Harris is pro-choice.
By the time the presidential election is held on Nov. 5, the 2024-25 regular season will already be in full swing for James and the Lakers. The Lakers’ season opener is scheduled for Oct. 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Los Angeles will take on the Detroit Pistons the night before the election will be held on Nov. 4.
James still has more than a fortnight to reveal who he’s supporting in the upcoming election before it takes place, so perhaps he’ll publicly endorse someone in the near future.
