LeBron James fires back at Ingraham: ‘We will not shut up and dribble’

NBA star LeBron James responded in a tweet Friday night to Fox News host Laura Ingraham after she told him to “shut up and dribble” rather than criticize President Trump.

James tweeted a link to a report on Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant calling Ingraham’s comments “racist,” with the hashtag “#wewillnotshutupanddribble.”

#wewillnotshutupanddribble https://t.co/LyenGRKTUE

— LeBron James (@KingJames) February 16, 2018

Ingraham quickly fired back at James, inviting him to appear on her show.

“Come play on my Court next week,” she tweeted.

Hey King, Come play on my Court next week. You’re invited on the show anytime. https://t.co/CpXRl5jGzQ

— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) February 16, 2018

Ingraham railed against James on her show Thursday after showing a video shot for James’s multimedia platform, Uninterrupted. In the video, James and Durant reflect on Trump’s presidency, with James saying Trump doesn’t “give a f— about the people.”

{mosads}”Must they run their mouths like that?” Ingraham said. “Unfortunately, a lot of kids and some adults take these ignorant comments seriously.” 

“Look, there might be a cautionary lesson in LeBron for kids,” she added. “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.”

James graduated from St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in 2003. 

Ingraham also told James and Durant to “keep the political commentary to” themselves because “no one voted for you.”

“Millions elected Trump to be their coach,” Ingraham said. “So keep the political commentary to yourself, or, as someone once said, ‘shut up and dribble.’ “

Durant responded to Ingraham’s remarks Friday night, calling them “racist.”

“Ignorance is something I try to ignore. That was definitely an ignorant comment,” he said. “I do play basketball, but I am a civilian and I am a citizen of the United States, so my voice is just as loud as hers, I think – or even louder.”

Philadelphia Eagles lineman Chris Long joined the backlash against Ingraham, posting a series of tweets showing Fox News interviewing other celebrities and athletes for their views on political issues.

James and Durant have both been critical of Trump in the past.

Durant said last year that he would not visit the White House with the Warriors after they won the NBA championship. The team later called off the visit altogether amid a feud with Trump.

James supported Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. Last year, after violent white supremacist protests in Charlottesville, Va., James referred to Trump as the “so-called president.”

Ingraham defended her remarks in a statement released by Fox News on Friday, saying there “was no racial intent.” The Fox News host noted that previously she has told other celebrities to “shut up and sing” (Dixie Chicks and Barbra Streisand), “shut up and act” (Robert DeNiro), “shut up and make us laugh (Jimmy Kimmel) and “shut up and coach” (San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich). 

Ingraham added, “If pro athletes and entertainers want to freelance as political pundits, then they should not be surprised when they’re called out for insulting politicians….false, defamatory charges of racism are a transparent attempt to immunize entertainment and sports elites from scrutiny and criticism.”

This article was updated at 12:39 p.m.