What LeBron James’ record-setting tweet means for his career
By Ryan Piers
Here’s what LeBron James’ now infamous tweet about the President of the United States tells us about the Cleveland Cavaliers legend.
LeBron James’ social media clout is nearly unparalleled. He is one of the most followed athletes on the planet and often times the most creative.
But the Cleveland Cavaliers‘ star forward raised the bar this weekend, delivering the most liked tweet by a professional athlete, ever. It was timely. It was sharp. And very political.
This is his 140-character response to President Donald Trump’s decision to “rescind” the Golden State Warriors’ invite to the White House:
U bum @StephenCurry30 already said he ain't going! So therefore ain't no invite. Going to White House was a great honor until you showed up!
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 23, 2017
The back-and-forth between President Trump and the Warriors’ sharpshooter heated up Friday when, while answering questions on Media Day, Curry adamantly stated he wouldn’t be attending the traditional, post-White House visit. Tension between Trump and Warriors had simmered since their title win, as prominent figures — Curry, Kevin Durant and Coach Steve Kerr — expressed, um, uncertainty about visiting the White House.
The situation boiled over when the president chided back:
Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team.Stephen Curry is hesitating,therefore invitation is withdrawn!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 23, 2017
James quickly defended his long-time rival, sending out his famous tweet about two-and-a-half hours following the president’s. It was met with quick response, both in opposition and favorable.
One called James “a bum” and said “ur talking to our great president like that?! Have some respect before I show you up & teach u a lesson.”
Another said “Apparently, someone is having a moment of roid rage.”
But a majority of the responses appeared to be positive. One supported James by saying “Attacking athletes is one thing, but attacking the freedom of speech and freedom of choice for an American is another.”
He seemed to gain a couple fans as well. Another said “I never liked LeBron until this Tweet…for the record.”
A couple fans made similar sentiments, responding with comical memes and sharp jabs. Unlike Durant, James didn’t get back to any of them.
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LeBron has previously dabbled in the practice of making bold, political statements. But even recently, despite heightened political activity, his Twitter activity was more focused on the Cleveland Indians, not ideology.
But this tweet was a pivot from previous hints at politics to a full-on burn of the president. It was an attack from James, unabashed and without fear of losing followers. It was harsh, even compared to frequent criticism of Trump from the media and the public.
But what is most important isn’t the tone of the tweet, but the timing. James has long been the league’s best player. When Tim Duncan and Kobe Bryant were at their best, LeBron was better. And even as first Durant and Curry, now Russell Westbrook and James Harden put up record-breaking numbers, LeBron is still an MVP finalist.
With the responsibility of being the league’s alpha dog comes the responsibility of being the players’ mouthpiece.
And we’ve seen LeBron embrace that role this season. After all, he is the vice president of the NBA Players Union, and in that role he’s actively pushed for more benefits for retired players. Politically speaking, he recently spoke out about the Charlottesville incident.
But in this instance, King James takes on the position of “Big Brother James,” quickly stepping between Trump and Curry, ready to absorb a punch for his NBA brethren. It’s a departure from his role as cheerleader and sideline commenter, to a more active position.
What we saw this week was the next step in LeBron’s evolution. It was him transitioning from not just the NBA’s best player, but its policeman. He is now the senior figure, the league chief. The buck officially stops with LeBron.
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It’ll likely be the final piece of LeBron’s legacy. First there was the talent. Then came the titles. After that, James began breaking records and toppling all-time leader boards. Now he’s taken on the role of social activist. But more specifically, as an activist for other players.
Past players, like Bill Russell and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, were vocal about social issues. What we may see from LeBron is a targeted focus. His purpose going forward will be to stand up for guys in the league, whether it be in player union meetings or in Twitter bouts with world leaders.
Actually, for better or worse, this has really been Bron’s biggest influence all along. His move to Miami helped erase the consensus that players should show loyalty to a franchise, decreasing the taboo of instantly bailing on franchises for greener pastures. The move gave players more freedom and power as free agents.
In recent years, LeBron has pushed the NBA to be a more social media-driven league. LeBron built his brand through Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat instead of shoe deals and sports drink commercials, like his predecessors. Now, the practice is more commonplace, which is great for players who don’t have the talent for big sponsors, but have the personality for the internet.
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Now LeBron is cementing is legacy is not just a progressor, but a protector. And in these politically charged times, this won’t be the last time we’ll hear from King James.