Gregg Popovich Says Laura Ingraham’s ‘Shut Up and Dribble’ Comments Were ‘Show of Arrogance’
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich went after Fox News host Laura Ingraham for her comments that NBA star LeBron James should “shut up and dribble” instead of talking about political issues.
“Look, there might be a cautionary lesson in LeBron for kids,” Ingraham said earlier this month on her Fox News show “The Ingraham Angle.” “This is what happens when you attempt to leave high school a year early to join the NBA. And it’s always unwise to seek political advice from someone who gets paid a $100-million a year to bounce a ball.”
Popovich, who has been vocal about his disdain for President Trump, told reporters before the Spurs’ game against James’ Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday that the NBA superstar should continue to speak out on political issues, praising his social impact and calling him “a brilliant example for millions of kids.”
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“To me, when I heard about [Ingraham’s comments], that was just an unbelievable show of arrogance for a talking head to try and tell someone else if they can speak, what they can speak about and when and where to do it,” Popovich said. “It’s just ludicrous.”
At last week’s NBA All-Star Game, LeBron responded to Ingraham by saying he would continue to speak out on social topics and saw the pundit’s comments as affirmation.
“It lets me know that everything I’ve been saying is correct for her to have that type of reaction,” he said, “But we will definitely not shut up and dribble. I will definitely not do that. I mean too much to society, I mean too much to the youth, I mean too much to so many kids that feel like they don’t have a way out and they need someone to help lead them out of the situation they’re in.”
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