Arabic version: ترامب يقول إن ليبرون جيمس «ربما يكون عنصرياً»

According to BBC News, United States President Donald Trump said NBA star LeBron James might be “a racist” when asked whether James or Michael Jordan was basketball’s best-ever player.

Speaking at a White House news conference after James announced he will continue his career with the Philadelphia 76ers, Trump said Jordan was his choice. “Michael Jordan is a guy that’s a friend of mine. I play golf with him. He’s a really good guy,” Trump said.

Trump added: “I think LeBron is, maybe he’s a racist, but maybe he doesn’t like Trump. I don’t know. I only like people that like me, so I would say Michael Jordan all the way.” Jordan won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s and was named NBA Most Valuable Player five times.

James, 41, had not responded to Trump’s comment. He has regularly criticised Trump during his terms as president and endorsed Democrat candidates Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris when they ran against him. In 2017, James called Trump “a bum” following a dispute over White House invitations for NBA championship teams.

James has won four NBA titles, with the Miami Heat twice, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers. The NBA’s all-time leader in points and games played, he will seek a fifth championship in Philadelphia alongside All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown. “I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team,” James said in a lengthy social-media post.