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LOS ANGELES – LeBron James described 2020 as the worst year of his life on Saturday, when the Los Angeles Lakers superstar lost two of his black heroes just seven months apart.
James honored actor Chadwick Boseman before the Lakers’ Game 5 first-round playoff contest against Portland by crossing his arms over his chest in the Wakanda salute from the movie Black Panther.
Boseman, star of the groundbreaking superhero superhero, died this week at age 43 after a battle with cancer. His death comes seven months after former Lakers icon Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash.
“Of losing the Black Panther and the Black Mamba in the same year, we can all agree that 2020 is the year (expletive) … in my 35 years, there is no question,” said James.
READ: The tributes come to Chadwick Boseman
James also spoke Saturday about stepping up his leadership both on and off the court in the NBA’s pandemic bubble, using his platform to drive social justice change in communities across the United States.
“It’s great to be back on the court. But the most important thing is to have a (social justice) plan and execute it and put it into action right away,” said James, who scored 36 points when the Lakers reached the second round. of the playoffs with a 131-122 victory over the Trail Blazers.
James helped negotiate the NBA restart this week after players decided to boycott three days of playoff games following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Wisconsin.
He was part of an initiative Saturday to have the Staples Center and other NBA stadiums designated as polling stations for this year’s US presidential election.
James, who is not a fan of US President Donald Trump, has spoken out numerous times since the Black Lives Matter protests began that change can happen when Americans use their right to vote.
“Having NBA stadiums for voting sites is amazing,” James said. “November is just around the corner and we all understand how important it is.”
James said the players considered not playing any more games this season, but added that during the talks he was confident that they could reach an agreement with the owners.
“There were some doubts,” James said. “It’s great that we’ve come up with a plan. We’re going to execute it. That’s what we’ve been able to do in the last few days.
READ: Kobe Bryant’s wife Vanessa wishes ‘this nightmare will end’
“With solidarity we support our brothers in Milwaukee. We stood with them like a league.”
James said one of the problems with the way the NBA bubble was created is that they are dealing with a busier than normal game schedule.
“We had a mission. That mission was lost in translation,” he said. “When the playoffs started. We played every other day.
“When we try to create (social justice) change, we cannot lose sight of what is the main thing. This was an opportunity to take a deep breath.
“It was time to just breathe out and say what we are really doing and really trying to create change.”
James, who is a father, admitted that he has considered leaving the bubble environment in Orlando, Florida, but more for reasons other than political.
“I have had numerous nights and days thinking about getting out of the bubble. Everybody has done it. But not because of what happened.
“It crossed my mind for sure.”
