LeBron James Under Fire As Fans Slam Him For 'Disrespecting' USA During National Anthem
NBA star LeBron James is facing a fresh wave of backlash after a recent clip of him seemingly ignoring the National Anthem went viral. During the Los Angeles Lakers game against the Houston Rockets on Christmas Day, ESPN shared a clip of the NBA champion working on what appeared to be his golf swing during the "Star Spangled Banner." While some online users downplayed James' behavior, others voiced their outrage, accusing the storied legend of "disrespecting" America.
LeBron James Under Fire After Video Showed Him Practicing His Golf Swing During National Anthem
On Christmas Day, ESPN's broadcast showed James, 40, rocking back and forth during the National Anthem performance.
"Bron working on his golf swing?" the company captioned the video, which has amassed over 20,000 likes and 1,200 comments.
It didn't take long, however, for offended users to begin airing their grievances, with one calling James the "most unlikeable athlete in history."
Another user wrote, "Disrespecting the flag in the country that made him a millionaire."
Social Media Users Continue Torching LeBron James Over His 'Star Spangled Banner' Snub
Lebron James is an absolute piece of garbage!!! Show some RESPECT for the National Anthem!! pic.twitter.com/ZsID4tNvLu
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen) December 13, 2023
The criticism didn't end there. A third user expressed their annoyance with the situation, writing, "During the national anthem? Wtf."
A fourth slammed James before comparing him to Michael Jordan, calling the latter a "better basketball player ... a better golfer ... and a better American than LeBron could ever imagine himself to be."
This isn't the first time James has come under fire for seemingly disregarding the country's anthem, as he made headlines in 2023 when he showed up to Bronny James' USC game during a "SSB" performance and sat mid-song.
Although it's uncertain if James is preparing for a special golf tournament behind the scenes, he told Spectrum Sportsnet Live that he's caught the golfing "bug." He added, "I didn't know nothing about it. People said if you ever get into the game and the bug grabs you, it's over with. I definitely have it, man."
James' NBA Peer Sounds Off On The Athlete's Newfound Love For Golf
“I’m happy my guy’s out there.”
Jayson Tatum reacts to LeBron James picking up golf this summer 🏌️ pic.twitter.com/MB41rhpHtM
— NBA (@NBA) July 29, 2025
In a video shared on X, Boston Celtics superstar Jayson Tatum reacted to a clip of James teeing off on the green. "I'm happy my guy's out there," he said. "It's probably been a long time coming."
Tatum continued, "You just have to get out there. You gotta fall in love with the game. We all probably looked [stiff] when we got out there. But hopefully he keeps practicing, and it's only up from there."
LeBron James Has Spoken Candidly About Kneeling For The National Anthem
In 2020, James made headlines when he spoke candidly about police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's tragic killing.
On social media, James shared an image of Floyd alongside former NFL player Colin Kaepernick, who ignited a firestorm in the league for kneeling during the National Anthem.
"Do you understand NOW!!??!!??" the athlete wrote on Instagram. "Or is it still blurred to you??"
In another post, shared by ESPN, James showed his appreciation for Kaepernick, who hasn't played in the league since 2016, for being a leader.
"We know what Kap stand [sic] for, kneeled for," James said. "I just thank him for falling on the sword for the better of all of us as athletes. He's another one of those athletes that's generational."
James Didn't Want To Play On Christmas Day
Aside from his questionable behavior during the National Anthem, James was also the headline subject after the Lakers were blown out 119 to 96. James finished the game with 18 points, two rebounds, and five assists.
Before tip-off, James, who has won three gold medals with Team USA at the Olympic Games, confessed he wasn't pleased about his team playing on the holiday.
"But I mean, it's the game, it's the game I love. It's the game I watched when I was a kid on Christmas Day, watching a lot of the greatest play the game on Christmas," he said. "It's always been an honor to play it. Obviously, I'm gonna be completely honest, I would like to be home on the couch with my family all throughout the day. But my number is called — our number is called, so we have to go out and perform, and I look forward to it."
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