‘Shameful’: Video Goes Viral Of LeBron James Ignoring, Sitting During National Anthem At Son’s USC Game

 NBA star LeBron James is taking heat online for walking into his son’s college basketball game and taking a seat while the National Anthem was playing.

The 34-second video clip, which notably does not show the entire playing of the anthem, went viral, racking up more than 3.9 million views on X in under 24 hours. Most commenters were displeased with James’ actions, qualifying them as disrespectful, though in lockstep with the baller’s past actions and comments about the U.S.

“LeBron James casually walks into the basketball arena while the National Anthem is playing and takes a seat,” conservative Collin Rugg captioned the video, which was captured by O.C. Register reporter Luca Evans.

“Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star,” Rugg added. “Zero respect for the country that allowed him to become a billionaire. Zero respect for the men and women who defend our country so he can live his life. Shameful.”

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Just last year, James suggested that WNBA star Brittney Griner, who was being detained by Russia at the time, shouldn’t even want to come back to America.

“Now, how can she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?’” 

Griner was arrested in Russia, back in February 2022, after being caught with marijuana vaping materials. She was sentenced to nine years behind bars but was freed months later in a controversial prisoner exchange for a notorious Russian arms dealer.

Two years earlier, James claimed the U.S. was a racist and oppressive country.

“It’s just heartbreaking,” James said at the time. “You guys don’t understand. Unless you’re a person of color, you guys don’t understand. I understand you might feel for us. But you will never truly understand what it is to be black in America.”

“No, this is a walk of life,” the athlete added about the Black Lives Matter movement. “When you wake up and you’re black, that is what it is. It shouldn’t be a movement. It should be a lifestyle. This is who we are. … I don’t like the word ‘movement’ because, unfortunately, in America and in society, there ain’t been no damn movement for us. There ain’t been no movement.”

“You know what’s going on now. Is that progress? I think we can all say that’s not progress,” he said. “The conversations being had right now and how many people are really listening or just having the conversations of trying to make things happen, that’s progress. We got a long way to go.”