President Donald Trump called the NBA players “very bad” and “very dumb” in a radio interview on Tuesday as he expressed his disapproval of the league players kneeling during the national anthem to protest social injustice.
For the resumption of the NBA season in Orlando, Florida, all but two players knelt during the national anthem. Players also wore shirts with messages associated with the Black Lives Matter movement written on the back.
“Kneeling (during the national anthem) was horrible for basketball,” Trump said on Fox Sports’ “Outkick the Coverage.”
“They’ve had horrible ratings, low numbers. People are mad about it. They have enough politics with guys like me. There was a nastiness in the NBA in the way (protesting) it was done. The NBA is in trouble, trouble bigger than they understand. “
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Audiences for the first full week of bubble games near Orlando, Florida, where 22 teams have signaled a new season, fell 4% from the league pre-break average. But it was 14% above average after the first weekend, according to Sports Media Watch.
In Tuesday’s interview, host Clay Travis asked Trump if he was aware that some NBA players had criticized the president for his thoughts on their protests. Trump replied, “No, I didn’t notice they sent me back (criticism). I wouldn’t be surprised. There are some (players) very, very, very bad, frankly very stupid. I didn’t notice.”
Trump’s feud with NBA players extended from the early stages of his presidency, when he canceled the invitation of the then NBA champion Golden State Warriors from his visit to the White House in 2017, prompting LeBron James to call Trump a “bum” .
James recently mocked Trump’s criticism of kneeling NBA players when Trump deemed him “shameful”, saying last week, “I really don’t think the basketball community (is) sad about losing (Trump’s) audience.” .
James has spoken openly about the Black Lives Matter movement and used its platform to regularly express his political and social views.
At the end of Tuesday’s interview, Travis asked Trump who he would choose – James or Michael Jordan, as the greatest basketball player of all time. Trump did not hesitate.
“Michael Jordan,” Trump replied. “I’ve seen them both. Michael is, besides he wasn’t political, so people like him better.”
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