Many athletes are taking the time to speak out against Donald Trump after his recent comments on NFL players protesting the national anthem, as well as a comment on former NBA MVP Steph Curry.
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Joining in on the action was NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who sent out a rare tweet in response to the divisiveness that he believes that the President has created.
A #POTUS whose name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can't possibly "Make America Great Again"
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) September 23, 2017
A #POTUS who's name alone creates division and anger. Who's words inspire dissension and hatred can't possibly "Make America Great Again"
Bryant doesn't do a lot of social media, so the response is a big one from one of the biggest stars in the history of the NBA. Bryant's message came not long after LeBron James gave his own statement on the Steph Curry controversy.
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
James hasn't been shy on his criticism of Trump, and he just took it a step further.
"I don't want to go," Curry said according to USA Today. "That's kind of the nucleus of my belief...(But) it's not just me going to the White House. If it was, this would be a pretty short conversation."
Curry said he and his teammates don't stand for the same things as President Donald Trump.
"That we don't stand for basically what our President has - the things that he's said and the things that he hasn't said in the right times, that we won't stand for it," Curry said. "And by acting and not going, hopefully that will inspire some change when it comes to what we tolerate in this country and what is accepted and what we turn a blind eye to. It's not just the act of not going there. There are things you have to do on the back end to actually push that message into motion.
"(Athletes are) all trying to do what we can. We're using our platorms, using our opportunities to shed light on that, so that's kind of where I stand on it. I don't think us not going to the White House is going to miraculously make everything better, but this is my opportunity to voice that."
General Manager Bob Myers said the decision deserves a conversation, and forward Draymond Green said they will get together as a team and discuss whether they make the trip.
The Warriors, from Steve Kerr to Kevin Durant, had already been pretty clear that they weren’t going to go to WH if invited anyway.
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) September 23, 2017
The New England Patriots made the trip after winning the Super Bowl, but several players decided to skip the visit. Obviously a basketball team is much smaller, so if several players don't want to go and decide to skip, and it would much more noticeable.
If the Warriors do decide to skip out on the trip, it could start a trend among pro sports champions who have players and coaches that don't approve of the president—whether it's Trump or another in the future.
James' comments come after Colin Kaepernick's mother, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL players and the NFL Players Association all called out Trump.
