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LeBron James was angered this weekend after he was seen swaying his hips during the national anthem before the Los Angeles Lakers played the Sacramento Kings.
The Lakers star was accused of practicing his golf swing instead of standing still with his hand over his heart or his hands behind his back. Sports expert Craig Carton called out James for the decision during an episode of his podcast on Monday.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) in the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
“If you want to ignore your coach, ignore your teammates, being like 11+1, do it on your own time. Don’t do it during my national anthem,” Carton said. “A few days ago, Lakers basketball, the national anthem, he disrespected the national anthem.
“And while the anthem is playing, your man, the self-proclaimed ‘King,’ decides it’s a good time to work on my golf swing and disrespect the men and women in the military who gave their lives for this country. ‘Let me do some tunes while the anthem plays because I don’t play basketball well anymore. I need to work on my golf game.'”
PK Press Club Digital has contacted James’ representatives for comment.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after scoring a basket while forward Rui Hachimura, left guard, looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Sacramento Kings, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Jessie Alcheh/AP Photo)
National anthem controversies first erupted during the 2016 season when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt while “The Star-Spangled Banner” played. He said he was protesting racial injustice in the United States and went further by wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs and expressing support for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
Controversy over the anthem erupted again when James and others took a knee during the song in the NBA bubble after Jacob Blake was shot and killed during a police incident weeks after George Floyd’s death. Blake later admitted he had a knife on him when he was shot.
It didn’t seem like James made an act of protest before the game against the Kings.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, center, drives to the basket against Sacramento Kings guard Demar Derozan (10) as center Maxime Raynaud (42) looks on during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Jessie Alcheh/AP Photo)
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Los Angeles defeated Sacramento, 125-101. James had 24 points and five assists.
