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Stephen Curry: Donald Trump's LeBron James rhetoric based in 'longstanding racism'

Warriors guard Stephen Curry gave a blunt assessment of Donald Trump Tuesday ahead of his participation in the <span>Ellie Mae Classic golf tournament.</span> (AP)
Warriors guard Stephen Curry gave a blunt assessment of Donald Trump Tuesday ahead of his participation in the Ellie Mae Classic golf tournament. (AP)

Donald Trump’s tweet last week questioning LeBron James’ intelligence drew widespread condemnation from the NBA community and was even challenged by First Lady Melania Trump.

Stephen Curry: Trump’s rhetoric based in racism

Stephen Curry took part in the initial wave of support for James and provided perhaps the most blunt assessment yet of Trump’s stance during a Tuesday interview ahead of his appearance in this week’s Ellie Mae Classic golf tournament.

“That rhetoric is all based in some longstanding racism in terms of black men with a voice in power,” Curry told The San Jose Mercury News. “Unfortunately, that’s being revealed more and more as the days go on.”

Curry has swiped at Trump before

It’s not the first time Curry has taken on Trump in the media. In 2017, Curry all but called the president an ass after Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank applauded Trump as an “asset for the country.

Curry sided with James in June on the decision of athletes choosing to eschew the traditional White House visit after winning championships while Trump is in office. Curry’s Golden State Warriors did not attend the White House after winning the last two NBA championships.

Athletes continue to challenge Trump’s role in racism

Curry’s Tuesday statement is the latest example of athletes and coaches overtly referring to the latent racism in America that has risen to the surface under Trump’s presidency.

In 2016 San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich described the Trump campaign as “xenophobic, homophobic, racist, misogynistic.”

Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown spoke openly in January about his experience with racism and called out Trump by name for his role in making bigotry a more accepted part of the American fabric.

Trump’s attack on James was a reaction to the NBA superstar telling CNN that Trump was using race and sports to divide Americans.

And now Curry, perhaps James’ fiercest on-court rival, has once again aligned with James on an off-court issue of significance.

The NBA and its most visible figures clearly have no intention of backing down from Trump as long as he’s in office.

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