LeBron James, Drew Brees At Odds Over Colin Kaepernick
Jun 3, 2020, 2:59 PM
LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates his pass to Anthony Davis #3 for a score during the first half against the Utah Jazz at Staples Center on October 25, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Two future Hall of Famers are at odds over protesting protocol. The NBA’s Lebron James and the NFL’s Drew Brees don’t see eye to eye over Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback famously knelt during the Anthem through the 2016 NFL season. Kaepernick knelt to protest police brutality and racial injustice.
Racial inequality is once again at the front of the nation’s conscience after the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
In an interview with Yahoo’s Daniel Roberts, Brees said, “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.” Brees had previously shared a message of social unity.
Highlight: @readdanwrite asks @drewbrees what the star NFL quarterback thinks about "players kneeling again when the NFL season starts."@drewbrees: “I will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America or our country.”
Full exchange: pic.twitter.com/MpCkFyOMed
— Yahoo Finance (@YahooFinance) June 3, 2020
Brees comments about Kaepernick’s form of protest drew James criticism.
“WOW MAN!! 
. Is it still surprising at this point,” James asked on Twitter. “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.”
James tweeted to Brees that his father-in-law was a member of the US military and didn’t find Kaepernick’s protest offensive.
“I asked him question about it and thank him all the time for his commitment,” James tweeted. “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.”
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 Teammate
James wasn’t the only fellow athlete to disagree with Brees over the protest from Kaepernick. New Orleans Saints teammate Michael Thomas didn’t directly address Brees but retweeted a post that seemed aimed at the quarterback.
Thomas added a sickened emoji after NFL Columnist Mike Freeman tweeted, “How can anyone watch George Floyd get murdered and their first response when asked about it is ResPEcC tHe fLAg.”
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) June 3, 2020
Brees had previously stated he thought Kaepernick’s views were valid, though he disagreed with the quarterback’s form of protest.
