LeBron James shrugs off the national anthem criticism: 'It's a slow news day at the office'

LeBron James did not have much to say about the latest attack on him from the White House.

"It's a slow news day at the office, you know," James said Thursday night. "Slow news day in the office."

Hours earlier President Donald Trump had posted a video on social media and accused the Philadelphia 76ers star of disrespecting the country during the national anthem before Tuesday's season opener against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

What set it off

In the video, James appeared to practice a golf swing and a jump shot while lined up with teammates who mostly stood still as the anthem played.

Trump called him "a TOTAL DISGRACE" in the post. He said James "should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag."

'Outside noise'

Sixers coach Nick Nurse said before the home opener against Cleveland that the comments were just one more distraction for a team that has drawn plenty of attention since James signed this summer.

"I think that goes right in with other outside noise we've already had," Nurse said. "All I really care about is getting to the practice floor, getting them in the film room, getting them to the game floor."

Philadelphia went on to beat the Cavaliers 114-106 after trailing by 29 points. James had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

A long history

The two men have traded public jabs for years. In 2017 James wore shoes with the word "equality" on them during a game. In 2018, after a television host told him to "shut up and dribble," he answered that he would "definitely not shut up and dribble" because he means too much to young people.

James has long pointed to Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown, Bill Russell and Jackie Robinson as athletes who spoke up for change. "We know it's bigger than us," he said back then.