For the longest time, Cleveland Browns fans have known that former in-state basketball phenom LeBron James has been a Dallas Cowboys fan almost since birth.
That fact has irked the Cleveland populace since James’ birthplace of Akron is essentially a stone’s throw away.
However, in a recent interview with friend and long-time business partner Maverick Carter, James revealed that he is no longer a Cowboys fan.
LeBron James on why he’s not @dallascowboys fan anymore:
“Nah man I had to sit put on the Cowboys man. It just a things that were going on when guys were kneeling… [The] organization were like if do that around here you won’t play for this franchise again.”#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/gYusCcs8KY
— Landon Buford (@LandonBuford) October 27, 2022
When asked why, “King” James was direct.
“Nah, man. I had to sit out on the Cowboys, man. There were just a lot of things going on when guys were kneeling and guys would want to do freedom of speech and do it in a peaceful manner. There were people in their front office and a lot of people that ran the organization that was like, ‘If you ever do that around here, you’ll never play for this franchise again.’ I just didn’t think that was appropriate.”
James continued that he still loves a lot of the players on the Cowboys, specifically CeeDee Lamb, Ezekiel Elliott, and Micah Parsons, who James calls a “dog.”
Carter then asked if LeBron is “all-in” on the Browns and the LA Lakers star answered in the affirmative.
“I’m all-in on the Browns, we want ‘one shining moment!’”
James has brought attention to the social justice movement in the past including kneeling on the court before a game in 2020 to protest the Jacob Blake shooting.
After Pence's protest, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says any player who "disrespects" the flag won't play for team https://t.co/n3eDYh683d pic.twitter.com/mCwvbrDc3T
— NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) October 9, 2017
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told the media in 2017 that his players would all stand for the national anthem or face repercussions.
NEXT: Denzel Ward's Injury History Continues To Be A Concern“If there’s anything that is disrespectful of the flag, then we will not play. Okay? Understand? If we are disrespecting the flag, then we won’t play. Period,” said Jones in the wake of the protests from former 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
Cleveland doesn’t need nor care about his allegiance. He’s going to have enough on his plate legally in the near future that who he roots for will be the least of his concerns.