Jason Williams has never been one to bite his tongue. Now "White Chocolate" has a message for LeBron James: when the anthem plays, stand still.
What J-Will Said
On a clip from his Hoopin' N Hollerin' podcast, posted Oct. 30, Williams was asked if he had a problem with LeBron swinging his arms like a golf club during the national anthem.
"I do," Williams said.
His reason was blunt: "I think m—f—s just stand the f— still during the National Anthem." He added that it was "just my opinion."
When his co-host asked how much it really bothered him, Williams said he didn't care much about LeBron. "But you asked me, I wish he'd stand the f— still."
Then he made a prediction: "I bet he got fined for that, too." His argument was that everybody on the line is supposed to stand still and be dressed the same, and LeBron wasn't. "Guaranteed he got fined," he said. He also admitted the rules "could change" from when he played.
There's no public report that the NBA actually fined LeBron.
https://twitter.com/hoopinghollerin/status/2116191808351072761
What LeBron Did
The moment came before Philadelphia's season opener at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, Oct. 20. According to the Associated Press, James appeared to practice a golf swing and a jump shot while "The Star-Spangled Banner" played. Most of his teammates stood still. It's LeBron's first season with the Sixers.
Trump Piled On, LeBron Shrugged
President Donald Trump shared the video and called James "a TOTAL DISGRACE," AP reported. He said James "should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag."
LeBron's response, per AP: "It must be a slow news day at the office."
At the Sixers' home opener two days later, AP reported that James put his arms behind his back and bowed his head while Boyz II Men sang the anthem. Then he put up 17 points and 10 rebounds as Philly erased a 29-point deficit to beat Cleveland 114-106.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse filed the whole thing under "other outside noise," according to AP.
Bottom Line
J-Will isn't saying LeBron should be canceled. He's saying stand still for two minutes. Whether the league agrees and backs it up with a fine is a different question.
Photo: Jason Williams on Hoopin' N Hollerin'. Screenshot via @hoopinghollerin on X
