As our society starts to feel much unrest regarding the explosive issue of race, we tend to look at celebrities to voice their opinion and make sense of it all. Many oblige, while others don't and try to remain in the background. Cleveland Cavaliers mega-star, and perhaps the biggest name in sports today, LeBron James, falls into the category of very careful with words.
Prior to the Cavs game against the New York Knicks Thursday night in New York City, where so much of the societal unrest is taking place, James once again spoke on the subject at hand.
"It's a sensitive subject right now," James said. "Violence is not the answer; retaliation isn't the solution. As a society, we just have to do better," according to CBS Sports.
"It doesn't matter if you're an athlete or not," James said. "If you feel passionate about it or it hits home for you, then you have the right to speak upon it. That's why we have freedom of speech. I've never shied away for something that I feel for or people or families that I feel for. That's just who I am. But I don't think we should add pressure to anybody, first of all, that doesn't have the knowledge about it, that's not educated upon it to speak about something you don't know about. If you feel passionate about it, you speak about it. If not, don't worry about it."
A lot fans are disappointed with James for his background approach on the matter, but some think it's sort of refreshing to see such a superstar not using social media to voice words in such a reactionary way. James has clearly taken the smart, careful approach here.
James and the Cavs will be looking for their fifth straight victory tonight. He's currently averaging 24.9 points and 7.4 assists per game in his first year back with Cleveland, notes Basketball Reference.