NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers at New York Knicks
LeBron James appeared to work on his golf swing and shooting form while the national anthem played at Madison Square Garden. Whatever his intent, the NBA superstar should know better.
If LeBron James‘ golf swing is really this bad, perhaps he should work on it somewhere other than center stage at a sold-out Madison Square Garden.
The driving range would be a good place.
His backyard would work.
Pretty much anywhere other than standing alongside his Philadelphia 76ers teammates while Avery Wilson is singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Yet there was James before Tuesday night’s season opener against the New York Knicks, appearing to practice his golf swing and then going through his basketball shooting motion as Wilson performed the national anthem. James’ teammates mostly stood quietly beside him.
And when I thought it wasn’t possible for me to dislike LeBron any more, I saw this video of him practicing his golf swing during the national anthem… pic.twitter.com/HkVI6evviF
— John Kriesel (@johnkriesel) October 23, 2026
Then ask yourself a very simple question:
Was that really necessary?
This doesn’t require a political debate. It doesn’t require determining whether you voted Republican or Democrat. And it certainly doesn’t require joining the seemingly endless Donald Trump-LeBron James feud.
It requires basic manners.
LeBron James Could Have Stood Still for a Couple of Minutes
James has every right to his political beliefs.
He has every right to criticize presidents, politicians and policies. He has every right to speak about racial injustice, voting rights or anything else he believes matters. Athletes do not surrender their First Amendment rights when they sign professional sports contracts.
James has used his enormous platform to advocate for causes he believes in, and there is nothing inherently wrong with that.
But that’s not what happened at Madison Square Garden.
This wasn’t Colin Kaepernick kneeling to make an unmistakable political statement. James didn’t announce a protest. He hasn’t explained his actions as one.
He just appeared incapable — or unwilling — to stand still for a couple of minutes.
And that’s what makes the whole thing so ridiculous.
Even if James feels absolutely nothing toward the national anthem, could he not show a little respect to Wilson?
Wilson isn’t some random guy pulled out of Section 212 and handed a microphone.
The former contestant on NBC’s “The Voice” starred as the Scarecrow in the Broadway revival of The Wiz, with his performance on its cast recording helping earn him a Grammy nomination. He also became something of a Madison Square Garden institution during the Knicks’ 2026 championship run because of his anthem performances.
Wilson was doing his job.
The least James could have done was stop working on his slice long enough to let him do it.
The NBA Actually Has a Rule About This
Here’s another detail that shouldn’t get lost amid all the shouting.
The NBA has an actual rule governing player behavior during the anthem. The league’s published “Comments on the Rules” state:
“Players, coaches and trainers must stand and line up in a dignified posture along the foul lines during the playing of the American and/or Canadian national anthems.”
Read those words again.
Dignified posture.
Does practicing your golf swing qualify? How about going through your shooting motion?
That’s a question NBA commissioner Adam Silver should probably answer.
James was where he was supposed to be. He was standing. But the league didn’t merely write “stand.” It specifically included the words “dignified posture.”
There is nothing particularly dignified about treating the national anthem like dead time between warmups and tipoff.
America Has Been Pretty Good to LeBron James
This is also where James’ defenders will undoubtedly become angry.
Fine.
But America has been extraordinarily good to LeBron James.
That doesn’t mean America is perfect. It doesn’t mean James has forfeited his right to criticize it. It doesn’t mean the United States doesn’t have serious problems or that James hasn’t personally experienced things worth criticizing.
He absolutely has the right to demand better from his country. But gratitude and criticism aren’t mutually exclusive.
James grew up in Akron, Ohio, became one of the greatest basketball players who ever lived, turned his extraordinary talent into generational wealth and built a business empire around his fame.
The American sports machine helped make LeBron James a global icon. The NBA helped make him extraordinarily wealthy.
American fans bought the tickets, sneakers, jerseys and products.
American companies paid enormous sums to associate themselves with him.
None of that means James owes anyone political obedience. It does mean asking him to stand respectfully for the national anthem for a couple of minutes doesn’t seem particularly burdensome.
You don’t have to believe America is flawless to show respect for it. You don’t even have to particularly like the anthem.
Sometimes you stand quietly because that’s what the moment calls for.
LeBron James Knows the Cameras Are Always Watching
This is also not some anonymous rookie who momentarily forgot where he was.
Few athletes in American history have been more aware of their platform.
James understands cameras. He understands symbolism. He understands social media. He understands that virtually everything he does in public can become news.
He’s spent decades leveraging that attention brilliantly.
So it’s difficult to accept the idea that James should somehow be surprised that people noticed him swinging an imaginary golf club during the national anthem at Madison Square Garden.
We cannot know whether he intended to disrespect the anthem. Unless James says so, claiming that as fact would go beyond what the video establishes.
But intent doesn’t erase appearance.
And the appearance was awful.
The optics were worse.
Greatness Doesn’t Exempt Anyone From Criticism.
If anything, James’ stature makes the moment more disappointing.
Millions of people watch him. Kids imitate him. Cameras follow virtually everything he does. He knows that better than anyone.
So stand there.
Listen to the anthem.
Respect your teammates.
Respect the league’s own rule.
And, yes, show a little respect for the country that helped provide the stage upon which you became one of the most famous and successful athletes who ever lived.
It isn’t asking much. It’s a couple of minutes.
And if the urge to work on that golf swing is simply too overwhelming to resist, LeBron?
Wait until the anthem is over.
Judging by that swing, you’re going to need plenty of practice anyway.