NBA Players And Management Defend LeBron After Donald Trump Comments

Donald Trump took a swipe at LeBron James on Saturday with a tweet questioning his intelligence. While the Los Angeles Lakers star is yet to respond, the entire NBA fraternity including current and former players has come together in support for one of their own.

The President of the United States made the jibe following an interview with CNN’s Don Lemon, in which the three-time NBA champion said Trump was using sports to “kinda divide us” rather than unite the nation.

"Sports has never been something that divides people," James told Lemon, as per ESPN. "It's always been something that brings someone together."

Trump took offense to James' comments and did not hold back. He tweeted Saturday, days after the interview, questioning the Lakers star’s intelligence, while also taking Michael Jordan’s side in the ongoing debate about who is the greatest player of all time among the two.

“Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!” Trump wrote via his official Twitter account - @realDonaldTrump.

The president’s tweet got an immediate reaction from the NBA community and Michael Jordan. The owner of the Charlotte Hornets immediately put out a message of support for James.

"I support LJ," Jordan said via a statement. "He's doing an amazing job for his community."

The commissioner of the NBA, Adam Silver, who was in Johannesburg, South Africa, also commended LeBron not only for his achievements on court but also for his work off it. He made reference to the basketball legend’s recently launched I Promise school for the at-risk kids in Akron, Ohio.

"LeBron James is one of the all-time greatest NBA players and one of the most accomplished athletes," Silver told USA Today. "He runs a very successful media company. He's sent hundreds of students to college and just opened a school in Akron where at-risk students will receive free tuition, meals and transportation."

"I greatly admire his intelligence and business acumen and have enormous respect and appreciation for what he does in his community."

A number of current players including on-court rival Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl Anthony Towns, Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell and the Detroit Pistons’ Anthony Tolliver came to the small forward’s defense.

Lakers CEO and Controlling Owner Jeanie Buss also issued a statement on behalf of the team supporting James for his achievements on and off court.

“We could not be more proud to have LeBron James as part of our Lakers family. He is an incredibly thoughtful and intelligent leader and clearly appreciates the power that sports has to unite communities and inspire the world to be a better place. Those efforts should be celebrated by all," a statement read on their official site.

Lemon, who conducted the interview with James on CNN also responded after Trump labeled him the “dumbest man on television” in his tweet questioning the Lakers forward’s intelligence.