LeBron James ruffled some feathers before his first game with the 76ers when he was seen mimicking a golf swing during the singing of the national anthem, even drawing the ire of U.S. president Donald Trump.
More than a week after the controversy, Trump found an unlikely ally in Charles Barkley.
While Barkley made clear he doesn’t pay any mind to what Trump says, he sided with the president in thinking James’ approach to the anthem was inappropriate.
Here’s a look at what Barkley said.
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Charles Barkley says LeBron James was ‘disrespectful’ during national anthem
Barkley explained in an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio why he wouldn’t do what James did during the national anthem.
“I don’t pay what President Trump says any attention, first and foremost, at all,” Barkley said. “But I thought that was very disrespectful, practicing a golf swing in the middle of the anthem.”
Barkley explained that while he believes anyone should be allowed to protest during the national anthem, he “always” stands for the anthem because of American values like freedom of speech and his respect for military members,
“I always stand for the anthem. I just think it’s important,” Barkley said. “We live in the greatest country ever. You can always protest, but I think you have to be very careful with the anthem.”
“[LeBron] was very disrespectful, but I don’t ever pay any attention to what President Trump says.” Charles Barkley reacts to LeBron practicing his golf swing during the national anthem and Donald Trump’s criticism. https://t.co/ZqMaVtcgLJ @TermineRadio | @JumpShot8 https://t.co/CxAUy9B4fV
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 28, 2026
Barkley was asked partly about Trump, who said after the video went viral that James “should apologize to all of those Great American Warriors and Heroes who died for the American Flag, and all that our Country stands for!” The NBA great largely steered clear of Trump, however, only saying twice that he doesn’t care about what the president says.
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In 2016, Barkley said he preferred “action” over national anthem protests.
“Everybody’s talking about it and know about it. I’m just a bit more big on action,” Barkley said. “Once you get off your knee, like, ‘Okay, what are you doing?’ Because football season is going to be over soon. And the question is: How long do you do it? When is it over?'”
There is no indication James was protesting the national anthem on Oct. 20, but Barkley left no doubt he would have approached the moment differently.
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