Back in June, Uninterrupted released a video segment called "The Shop" that featured LeBron James addressing, among other things, the now-infamous letter that Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert sent to Cleveland fans following LeBron's departure from the team in 2010. LeBron referred to the letter as "disrespectful" and said that both his mother and his wife hated the letter and were openly against the idea of him ever returning to Cleveland because of it.
LeBron also spoke about how he himself was able to look past the letter when he eventually made the decision to return to the Cavaliers in 2014. But in a new GQ cover story, LeBron was once again asked to share his thoughts on the letter, and more specifically, he was asked if he thought the letter was "racial" in nature. LeBron responded by saying, "I did," before revealing that it forced him to have a talk with his kids about what was going on and why he was being attacked by Gilbert. LeBron said:
"It was another conversation I had to have with my kids. It was unfortunate, because I believed in my heart that I had gave that city and that owner, at that point in time, everything that I had. Unfortunately, I felt like, at that point in time, as an organization, we could not bring in enough talent to help us get to what my vision was. A lot of people say they want to win, but they really don't know how hard it takes, or a lot of people don't have the vision. So, you know, I don't really like to go back on that letter, but it pops in my head a few times here, a few times there. I mean, it's just human nature. I think that had a lot to do with race at that time, too, and that was another opportunity for me to kind of just sit back and say, 'OK, well, how can we get better? How can we get better? How can I get better?' And if it happens again, then you're able to have an even more positive outlook on it. It wasn't the notion of I wanted to do it my way. It was the notion of I'm gonna play this game, and I'm gonna prepare myself so damn hard that when I decide to do something off the court, I want to be able to do it because I've paid my dues."
LeBron talked about some other important topics in his GQ piece as well. He was asked if he would ever want to be the President of the United States, and while he said no, he mentioned that he plans to continue to use his powerful voice to speak on different social issues. "I don’t do it to get praise or to be in an article," he said. "I do it because it’s my responsibility."
Additionally, LeBron took aim at Donald Trump—again—in his GQ story and talked about the racism he has endured and how he has used it to teach his kids.
"True colors will show, and it showed for me during the playoffs, where my house in Brentwood, California, one of the fucking best neighborhoods in America, was vandalized with, you know, the n-word," he said. "And that shit puts it all into perspective. So do I use my energy toward that? Or do I now shed a light on how I can use this negative to turn into a positive, because so many people are looking for what I’m going to say. I had a conversation with my kids. I let them know this is what it is, this is how it’s going to be. When it’s time for y’all to fly, you’ll have to understand that. When y’all go out in public and y’all start driving or y’all start moving around, be respectful to cops, as much as you can. When you get pulled over, call your mom or dad, put it on speakerphone, and put your phone underneath the seat. But be respectful the whole time."
LeBron also spoke about a previously-undisclosed injury he sustained during an NBA Finals game against the Warriors, the thought of playing against his son LeBron James Jr. in the NBA one day, and the idea of his home state of Ohio helping to elect Trump. Go here to read the full GQ story.
