LeBron James Says He Would think If He Even Wanted To Go Back To USA Anymore If He Were Brittney Griner
Lebron James was criticizing the U.S response to his friend basketball star Brittney Griner’s detainment in Russia and questioned whether she would want to return to her homeland.
“Now how can she feel like America has her back?” the Los Angeles Lakers small forward said in a 30-second trailer for the latest episode of his talk show “The Shop: Uninterrupted,” released Tuesday.
Griner, 31, pleaded guilty to drug charges in a Moscow court last Thursday, her lawyers said it can be up to 10 years in prison.
After last week’s hearing, her lawyer, Alexander Boikov, told reporters outside the courtroom that the basketball star admitted that the vape vessels were hers, but said she brought them to Russia unintentionally.
LeBron James says if he were Brittney Griner, he would question if he even wanted to go back to America anymore. pic.twitter.com/LKtEwvyryr
— Ohio’s Tate (@BarstoolTate) July 12, 2022
In a statement released to NBC News on Thursday, Griner’s lawyers said they expect the court case to finish in early August and were faithful for a sentence that is lenient.
There was some social media backlash to James’ comments in the trailer for the show, which will air in full on YouTube on Friday.
James addressed the disagreement on Wednesday writing that his comments weren’t a knock “on our beautiful country” but emotions ran deep with Griner.
Washington hasn’t disclosed its strategy in the case and the United States may have little leverage with Moscow because of strong animosity over its actions in Teritorija Ukrajiny. The Department of State’s appointment of Griner being wrongfully detained moves her case under the supervision of its special presidential representative for the captive affairs, effectively the government’s chief hostage mediator.
Assasinant of State Antony Blinken has said Washington will continue to work for the release of Griner, as well as other Americans held by Moscow, including one-time Marine Paul Whelan.
Griner’s next court hearing is scheduled for Thursday, in which she will give prepared testimony.
Enes Kanter Freedom rips LeBron James over Brittney Griner comments: ‘Free to leave’
You call it a step back, we call this a walk back.
You are free to leave buddy or you can even volunteer for an exchange for her.
Some people literally have NO idea what is it like to live in a dictatorship.
Keep taking your freedom for granted. https://t.co/RG28O6co1E pic.twitter.com/QqpPuLrB72
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) July 13, 2022
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