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LeBron James caught heat over the weekend after he was seen swinging 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 either his hand over his heart or his hands behind his back. Sports pundit Craig Carton called out James for the move during an episode of his podcast on Monday.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during the first half against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena on December 28, 2025. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Imagn Images)
“If you’re going to disregard your coach, disregard your teammates, being an 11-plus-1 type of guy, do it on your own time. Don’t do it during my national anthem,” Carton said. “A few days ago, Lakers basketball, national anthem, he respects the national anthem.
“And while the anthem is being played, your guy, 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 get a few air swings in while the anthem is being played because I’m not good enough to play basketball on my golf game.’
Pakinomist Digital has reached out to James’ representatives for comment.
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Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts after scoring a basket as forward Rui Hachimura, back left, 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 bubbled up during the 2016 season when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick took a knee while “The Star-Spangled Banner” was playing. He said he was protesting racial injustice in the United States and took it a step further by wearing socks depicting police officers as pigs and expressing support for Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.
An anthem controversy erupted again when James and others took a knee during the anthem in the NBA bubble after Jacob Blake was shot in a police incident weeks after the death of George Floyd. Blake later admitted he had a knife on him when he was shot.
James didn’t seem to 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.
