Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James stirred controversy during his son Bronny’s USC debut by choosing to sit during the National Anthem.
This decision didn’t go unnoticed, prompting a fiery response from former police officer turned YouTube commentator Brandon Tatum.
Tatum, known for his outspoken views, launched into a vehement tirade against LeBron’s actions. “I can’t stand people like this. The blatant and utter disrespect for America just eats away at my spirit,” Tatum expressed, holding nothing back.
“And the man who would intentionally do this is a complete d-bag. You a dirt bad, bro. I don’t care you good at basketball… I can’t stand LeBron James. I cannot stand him. The guy is good in basketball. But that’s the difference between him and MJ.”
During the passionate rant, Tatum drew a stark comparison between LeBron and the legendary Michael Jordan, asserting, “That’s why MJ is the GOAT, and LeBron James ain’t.
“LeBron James is a good player. He ain’t the GOAT though. He’ll never make an impression on basketball like Michael Jordan because he’s not the same person, don’t have the same character. Michael Jordan would never disrespect the country to do what, bro?”
Tatum, frustrated by what he perceived as disrespect to those who sacrificed for freedom, emphasized, “People died for the freedom of people who live in America. People died. 18-year-old men left their family forever… so that you can be free.”
Tatum also ranted about a player who, while standing for the anthem, had his hand in his pockets.
“What makes me mad is people died, they died for the freedom of people who live in America. People died. 18-year-old men left their family forever, left their football aspirations, basketball aspirations and they died so that you can be free,” he continued.
“And we have the most freedom out of any nation ever to exist on planet Earth. And people are getting paid million to play basketball and you got your hands in your mother freaking pockets.
“God I want to cuss! I will slap the taste out of the mouth of people doing this. I want to. But it’s America so they can be stupid. But in the inside I would just slap. You disrespecting this country.”
In a final salvo, Tatum pointed out the irony of protesting oppression in a country where figures like LeBron James, a celebrated black man, hold unprecedented fame.
“The most famous man in this entire arena is a black man and every white kid in here will get on their knees and country at the opportunity to shake LeBron James hand,” he said. “A black man, not a white man. A black man. But they kneeling for oppression in American when they are the most celebrated people in the world.”
