LeBron to Fox News host: 'We will definitely not shut up and dribble'
LeBron James has no plans to keep quiet.
A day after being told to "shut up and dribble" by Fox News host Laura Ingraham for his comments about President Donald Trump, the Cleveland Cavaliers forward responded to the anchor's remarks Saturday and emphatically turned down her request.
"We're back to everything I've been talking about the last few years. It lets me know that everything I've been saying is correct for her to have that type of reaction. But we will definitely not shut up and dribble. I will definitely not do that," James said Saturday during his media availability for All-Star weekend. "I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth. I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don't have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they're in.
"I also wish she would have done a little bit more fact checking because I actually did finish high school, I didn't leave early. I graduated high school."
Ingraham's comments were also blasted by James' fellow NBA stars, including All-Star teammate Kevin Durant, who labeled them as racist, though the Fox News personality later rebuked that claim, saying "race has nothing to do with it." She also extended James an invite to come on her program.
Hey King, Come play on my Court next week. You’re invited on the show anytime. https://t.co/CpXRl5jGzQ
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) February 17, 2018
Regardless of what Ingraham meant with her comments, James added that he's simply happy she elevated his platform as a prominent activist for equality in society, even if he hasn't exactly memorized her name yet.
"The best thing she did is help me create more awareness," he said. "So I appreciate her for even giving me even more awareness. ... This is the best weekend in the NBA where all the countries and the whole entire world come watch the greatest players in the world no matter if they're a part of Thursday, Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
"And I get to sit up here and talk about social injustice, equality, and why a woman on a certain network decided to tell me to shut up and dribble. So thank you, whatever her name is. I don't even know her name."