In a recent incident that has stirred controversy, Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was criticized for his entrance at the Galen Center during the national anthem.

JAmes was at the Galen Center to see his son, Bronny, play in his first college game following his recovery from a heart attack last summer.

Captured in a video by Orange County Register reporter Luca Evans, the footage shows James entering the arena with his younger son, Bryce, and two teammates from Sierra Canyon High School.

The timing of their entrance coincided with the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Observers quickly pointed out James’s failure to remove his hat during the anthem, a customary sign of respect, and his decision to sit down immediately upon entering.

Critics of James, viewing this as disrespectful, accused him of having “zero respect” for the United States.

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However, Evans, the reporter who filmed the incident, defended James, stating that his entrance during the anthem was a regular practice in order to avoid causing a disruption.

Evans emphasized that this behavior was neither new nor intended to be disrespectful, having been a common occurrence during Bronny’s time at Sierra Canyon.

The episode also brought to light James’s history of activism, particularly his stance during the national anthem in 2020.

Along with other NBA players, James famously knelt during the anthem and wore “Black Lives Matter” shirts.

This was in response to the police-involved shooting of Jacob Blake and the death of George Floyd, events that heavily influenced the NBA community that year.

James, in a past statement, expressed his solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, the NFL player known for kneeling during the anthem to protest racial injustice.

James had lauded Kaepernick for standing up during uncomfortable times and clarified that Kaepernick’s protests were never about the flag or soldiers.

Since 2020 there have been no accounts of LeBron James kneeling during the national anthem.

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