After the Lakers' win over the Trail Blazers on Wednesday, LeBron James took to the podium to answer questions from the media like any star player would following a game. James fielded several questions about the game itself before turning the tables on the media, unprompted.
The Lakers star wanted to know why he hadn't been asked about the controversy surrounding a photograph from 1957 of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones overlooking a crowd of white students who were attempting to prevent Black students from entering North Little Rock High School in Arkansas.
James used Nets star Kyrie Irving as a comparison, stating that he was asked about his former teammates' recent controversy several times but didn't understand why he hadn't been asked to speak on the Jones situation.
For more information on what LeBron said, The Sporting News has you covered below.
MORE: Why Jerry Jones is under fire for 1957 photograph
What did LeBron James say about the Jerry Jones 1957 photograph?
Before leaving his postgame media availability after the Lakers' win on Wednesday, James had a question for the reporters in the room.
"I got one question for you guys before you guys leave. I was thinking when I was on my way over here, I was wondering why I haven't gotten a question from you guys about the Jerry Jones photo," James said.
"But when the Kyrie [Irving] thing was going on, you guys were quick to ask us questions about that.
"When I watch Kyrie talk and he says, 'I know who I am, but I want to keep the same energy when we're talking about my people and the things that we've been through,' and that Jerry Jones photo is one of those moments that our people, Black people, have been through in America. And I feel like as a Black man, as a Black athlete, as someone with power and a platform, when we do something wrong, or something that people don't agree with, it's on every single tabloid, every single news coverage, it's on the bottom ticker. It's asked about every single day.
"But it seems like to me that the whole Jerry Jones situation, photo — and I know it was years and years ago and we all make mistakes, I get it — but it seems like it's just been buried under, like, 'Oh, it happened. OK, we just move on.' And I was just kind of disappointed that I haven't received that question from you guys."
LeBron James questions the media and shares his thoughts on the Jerry Jones 1957 photo. pic.twitter.com/xbW9LyLicQ
— Spectrum SportsNet (@SpectrumSN) December 1, 2022
Jerry Jones 1957 photograph, explained
The Washington Post published a story on Nov. 23 that revealed a photograph from 1957 of the Cowboys owner standing outside of North Little Rock High School in Arkansas, where white students were attempting to prevent Black students from desegregating in the school.
Wow, so Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was one of the bullies trying to stop his Black classmates from desegregating Central High in Little Rock in 1957. https://t.co/IZm9DuTUhM pic.twitter.com/G4o7H2G9qp
— Joshua Clark Davis (@JoshClarkDavis) November 23, 2022
After the photo was released, Jones claimed he was there to watch, not participate.
“I don’t know that I or anybody anticipated or had a background of knowing … what was involved. It was more a curious thing,” he said (via The Washington Post).
Jones was asked about the photo again after the Cowboys' win over the Giants on Thanksgiving, again, stating he was there out of curiosity.
"I didn't know at the time the monumental event really that was going on," Jones said (via ESPN). "I'm sure glad that we're a long way from that. I am. That would remind me [to] just continue to do everything we can to not have those kinds of things happen."
Kyrie Irving antisemitic tweet and suspension, explained
Irving missed eight games this year due to a team-issued suspension for showing support for a movie with antisemitic views. The Nets gave their star point guard a checklist to complete before he would be able to retake the court, and Irving also issued a public apology to the Jewish community for his actions.
MORE: Fact-checking 'Hebrews to Negroes' movie tweeted by Kyrie Irving
When James was asked about Irving's situation back in early November, he had this to say:
"Me personally, I don't condone any hate to any kind. To any race. To Jewish communities, to Black communities, to Asian communities. You guys know where I stand.
"I believe what Kyrie did caused some harm to a lot of people. And he has since, over the last — I think it was today, or yesterday — he apologized. But he caused some harm, and I think it's unfortunate. I don't stand on the position to harm people when it comes to your voice or your platform or anything."
Irving returned from his team-issued suspension on Nov. 20.
