LeBron James criticized for entering arena during national anthem and sitting down as song played

Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James is being criticized for having walking into a University of South California sports arena to watch his son play basketball while the national anthem was playing, then sitting down and not removing his hat as the song continued to be played.

In a video, James appear to stand up near the end of the patriotic song after someone appeared to speak with him.

The game was being played at Galen Arena, and James' son, Bronny James, was playing in his first game as a Trojan roughly five months after going into cardiac arrest during a preseason workout.

"Zero respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to be a basketball star," Collin Rugg, co-owner of the media outlet Trending Politics, posted Tuesday on X, formerly Twitter, alongside the video.

The video was posted by Orange County Register reporter Luca Evans, who defended the NBA star's entrance after the video went viral.

"This is gross and completely mischaracterizes the situation," he posted on X. "LeBron has done this for YEARS in Bronny’s time at Sierra Canyon [school.] It’s objectively the best time to walk in so he doesn’t cause a massive stir. Stop it."

However, Evans' defense also garnered negative responses. 

"There are countless other moments to enter the stadium without causing a massive stir," one user said. "You stop it,"

Another commented: "So what you are actually saying is that Lebron has been consistently disrespectful. It is OK to come in during the National Anthem. You simply remove your hat and [then] remain standing when you get to your seat, not plop yourself down."

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