LeBron James wore one black Nike basketball shoe and one white with the word “Equality” on the back of each shoe — the LeBron 15 Equality PEs — during the first half of Cleveland’s 106-99 victory against Washington on Sunday.
In the nation’s capital with the White House blocks away, James explained his decision to wear the different colored sneakers, referencing President Trump but never saying his name.
“Obviously, we know where we are right now. We know who’s at the helm,” James said. “Us as Americans, no matter the skin color, no matter the race, no matter who you are, we all have to understand having equal rights and being able to stand for something, speak for something and keeping the conversation going.
“Obviously, I’ve been outspoken and well-spoken about what’s going on at the helm here. We’re never going to let one person dictate us Americans — how beautiful and how powerful we are as a people. Equality is all about understanding our rights, understanding what we stand for and how powerful we are as men, as women, black or white, or Hispanic. It don’t matter your race, whatever the case may be. This is a beautiful country.”
James, who had his third consecutive triple-double with 20 points, 15 assists and 12 rebounds, wore the same colored shoes in the second half.
“I didn’t play well in the first half, and I’m very superstitious so I took them off,” James said. “I didn’t play well in the second half either. So if there was a third half, I would’ve took those off, too.”
