Trump says LeBron James is 'maybe a racist', picks Michael Jordan as basketball's best

US President Donald Trump used a routine question about basketball's greatest player to launch a personal attack on LeBron James, while the 41-year-old star confirmed his move to the Philadelphia 76ers for a 24th and likely final NBA season.

Trump's White House broadside

Asked who is the best basketball player in history, Trump gave a one-word answer: Michael Jordan. But he quickly pivoted to James. "I think LeBron is, maybe he's a racist, or maybe he just doesn't like Trump. I don't know. I only like people who like me," Trump said. He added that Jordan is "a friend of mine. I play golf with him. He's a really nice guy."

The two have been at odds for years. In 2018 Trump tweeted that James was being interviewed by "the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He makes LeBron look smart, which isn't easy."

James's final chapter in Philadelphia

After months of speculation, James announced he will join the Philadelphia 76ers. "I am convinced I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a champion team, and I am hugely excited to inspire a new fan base and begin this incredible journey one last time," James posted on social media.

At 41, James remains one of the top 20 players in the league, though he no longer carries a team alone. In Philadelphia he joins a roster that includes center Joel Embiid, young guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, and recent acquisition Jaylen Brown. "Is that the best starting five in the NBA on paper?" asked expert Zach Lowe on the Bill Simmons Podcast.

The numbers behind the GOAT debate

The debate between James and Jordan dominates fan discussions. Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. James has four titles but owns both the all-time points record and the most games played in league history. The "count the rings" argument remains a favourite on social media.

A fifth ring could reshape the conversation, though Embiid's injury history makes predictions difficult. James's 24th season begins with the Sixers holding one of the deepest rosters in the league, and the basketball world will watch whether the final act of his career can tilt the legacy debate in his favour.