NBA legend LeBron James clarifies stance on Brittney Griner situation following backlash

LeBron James isn’t afraid to voice his opinion on what he thinks. However, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar came under heavy criticism from the NBA community following his comments on Brittney Griner.

Griner, an eight-time WNBA All-Star has been detained in Russia for nearly 4 months for illegal possession of drugs in the state. The American basketball star reportedly carried ‘hash oil’ on her visit to Russia back in February and has been detained in the country ever since.

Image Credits – CNN

During a recent HBO show “The Shop: Uninterrupted” recording for the fifth episode of Season 5, James made the remarks concerning Griner’s condition. Tuesday saw the unveiling of the episode’s trailer, which will air on Friday. Although it is noted in the tape that Griner had been imprisoned for more than 110 days at the time the episode was produced, the exact date is unknown.

LeBron James
Credits: SN

Brittney Griner could choose to spend ten years in a Russian jail, according to LeBron James, who believes that America is so horrible as the country didn’t opt to protect the WNBA player. The online conservative backlash came quickly. ‘LeBron James should join Brittney Griner in her Russian prison cell’, wrote Nick Adams, a writer who has received support from former President Donald Trump.

Washington Times columnist Tim Young stated: “LeBron James claims that he would be hesitant to go back to the United States if he were Brittney Griner. two things 1. He has the option to depart at any time… Given that he admires the CCP, why not China? 2. There is no need to decide right now. She has ten years to consider it.”

Later, James clarified in a tweet that he wasn’t criticizing the United States but only Griner. He wrote, “I was only expressing how she’s probably experiencing emotionally within the cage that she’s been in for over 100+ days along with so many other emotions, ideas, etc. The hashtags #BringHerHome and #FreeBG, which supporters have been using to raise awareness of Griner’s detention, were added by James.

Since February, Griner has been detained in Russia when officials discovered vape cartridges carrying cannabis oil in her luggage at a Moscow airport. She admitted guilt to the allegation last week. The American State Department contends that she was falsely charged.

 

 

 

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