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"We're hunted" - LeBron James was outraged seeing the death of George Floyd in 2020
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- "We're hunted" - LeBron James was outraged seeing the death of George Floyd in 2020
At a time when the world was already grappling with a global pandemic like COVID-19, the tragic death of an African American man, George Floyd, shook humanity as a whole. A victim of police brutality at the hands of a white officer, Derek Chauvin, who is currently in prison.
Floyd's death sparked outrage across the country, with people taking to the streets in protest. The heinous act drew reactions from top celebrities, including those in entertainment and sports, among them NBA superstar LeBron James , who posted about it on Instagram.
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The NBA's face and biggest superstar's post was a side-by-side collage featuring the photo of the officer kneeling on Floyd's neck on one side and NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling during the national anthem on the other, which caused a stir back in the day. The act was a sign of protest against police brutality and racial injustice.
"This ... ... Is Why ... Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you?? #StayWoke," read LeBron's caption.
An advocate for social injustice
It's no secret that James has been pretty vocal about addressing racial and social issues. The case was no different when it came to Floyd, who died as a consequence of police brutality. After expressing his anger in a post, LeBron also shared a series of stories about the incident.
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One of them was a photo and video of Floyd's arrest, captioned , "We're hunted."
At the same time, there was widespread anger among other NBA players, who even took to the streets in protest.
As a sign of protest, the league and the NBPA agreed to replace the player's name with slogans promoting equality, justice and harmony. These included phrases like "Black Lives Matter", "Say their names", "I can't breathe", "Vote", "Justice", "Peace" and more.
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The players had the full support of Commissioner Adam Silver, who wanted to use the NBA as a platform to raise awareness of these important issues.
"The league and the players are uniquely positioned to have a direct impact on combating systemic racism in our country, and we are committed to collective action to build a more equal and just society," said Silver during the Bubble season.
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Facing backlash for speaking out
That said, superstars like LeBron have often borne the brunt of taking a stance on social, racial and political issues. Nonetheless, it has never stopped him from voicing his opinion.
For most of his career, James has been pretty vocal about the country's social and political climate. As a global sports personality and representative of the African American race, LeBron has always believed he had certain obligations that extended beyond the hardwood.
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But not everyone felt the same way, including Fox News host Laura Ingraham, who in 2018 caused a stir with her remarks about James for discussing national politics.
"This is what happens when you attempt to leave high school a year early to join the NBA. And it's always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid $100 million a year to bounce a ball … Keep the political commentary to yourself or, as someone once said, 'Shut up and dribble,'" said Ingraham, whose comments were also intended towards Kevin Durant .
Responding to her comments during the 2018 All-Star Weekend, James made sure to say he would not shut up and dribble and that Ingraham's comments only helped raise awareness of the issue.
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As a role model and ambassador of the NBA, LeBron believed it was his responsibility to speak on issues that the common person could not, an approach that has earned him both applause and backlash.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
