LeBron blasts Brees: You 'still don't understand why Kap was kneeling?'
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James issued a strong rebuke of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees after the latter maintained Wednesday he still doesn't agree with NFL players kneeling during the national anthem, even as thousands of people protest police brutality and anti-black racism.
WOW MAN!! 🤦🏾♂️. Is it still surprising at this point. Sure isn’t! You literally still don’t understand why Kap was kneeling on one knee?? Has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of 🇺🇸 and our soldiers(men and women) who keep our land free. My father-in-law was one of those https://t.co/pvUWPmh4s8
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020
men who fought as well for this country. I asked him question about it and thank him all the time for his commitement. He never found Kap peaceful protest offensive because he and I both know what’s right is right and what’s wrong is wrong! God bless you. 🙏🏾✊🏾👑
— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 3, 2020
Brees was responding to a question from Yahoo Finance's Daniel Roberts, who asked how the passer would feel if players returned to the form of peaceful protest that former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick began in 2016.
Kaepernick famously took to one knee during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and racial inequality, the same causes behind the widespread protests ongoing in the U.S. in response to George Floyd's death in police custody on May 25.
During Kaepernick's silent protests, Brees said then that he agreed with the quarterback's reasoning but not his method, which he said was "disrespecting the flag."
Other current and former NBA players also criticized Brees for his stance Wednesday, including retired point guard Mo Williams, who won a title alongside James on the 2016 Cleveland Cavaliers.
I’m so off Drew Brees. You can’t be that clueless to why he was kneeling. Boy they play dumb when need be. You know good and well he wasn’t kneeling because of a flag. You sound as dumb as that other guy that speaks to us. #idiot
— Mo Williams (@mowilliams) June 3, 2020
James' current Lakers teammate Jared Dudley called Brees' comments the "problem we are dealing with."
Wow!! This was today?! This is the problem we are dealing with.. People can’t separate the 2.. This is bigger then the Flag @drewbrees. We all are not treated the same https://t.co/Cvs8etfUqi
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) June 3, 2020
🗣 Even though he’s wrong I’m glad he spoke to reporters and picked a side... No more in the middle with this.. https://t.co/fXFX5SEUOX
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) June 3, 2020
Former Orlando Magic guard Jameer Nelson also reproached the quarterback for his comments.
Taking a knee never had anything to do with the Flag. #MyFatherwasVietnamVet ( Marine ). Open your eyes and ears. Take time to understand why Guys took a knee. This isn’t me taking a shot at anybody. Just trying to educate people. https://t.co/LXl0v1j7bM
— Jameer Nelson (@jameernelson) June 3, 2020
Brees' teammate, Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, appeared to call him out on Wednesday too, as did several other NFL players.