When did LeBron James stop supporting Jerry Jones' Cowboys?
LeBron James admitted that he was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys for pretty much his entire life. This is an interesting choice for an NFL team to root for, especially considering he's from Akron, Ohio. He pledges hometown allegiance to the Ohio State Buckeyes in college football, but decided not to stay local when choosing which NFL team he would root for growing up in Ohio.
All of this apparently changed a couple of years ago. LeBron James appeared on Instagram Live with Maverick Carter, his longtime friend and one of his business partners in various ventures. When asked about his NFL fandom, James explained why he's no longer a fan of the Cowboys, despite passionately rooting for them for more than 30 years:
"I had to chill out on the Cowboys, man. Just a lot of things that were going on when guys were kneeling, and freedom of speech, and wanting to do it in a very peaceful manner. The organization was like, 'If you do that around here, you won't ever play for this franchise again.' I just didn't think that was appropriate."
Lebron James on why he’s not a Dallas Cowboys fan anymore https://t.co/iIng0iQs8c
LeBron James was referring to when Colin Kaepernick started a controversial trend during the 2016 NFL season. Kaepernick took a knee during the national anthem before a game while he was still playing for the San Francisco 49ers in an effort to raise awareness for social and racial injustice. Other players on various teams across several sports began to join Kaepernick's movement.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones disapproved of Kaepernick's methods and the growing trend of kneeling during the Anthem. Jones made his stance clear in an interview with the "Dallas Morning News" in 2017 and gave his players an ultimatum:
"We cannot in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag. We know that there is a serious debate in this country about these issues, but there is no question in my mind that the league and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag."
Jerry Jones doubled down on his comments, stating that if any players on the Cowboys were to kneel during the Anthem, they would not be allowed to play during the game. LeBron James disagreed with Jones' firm stance on the issue and claims that is the direct reason why he no longer roots for the Cowboys.
What NFL team does LeBron James root for instead of the Dallas Cowboys?
LeBron James has apparently decided to return to his hometown connection when choosing which NFL team will replace the Dallas Cowboys as his personal favorite and rooting interest. He announced during the same Instagram Live show that he will now be a fan of the Cleveland Browns.
His hometown of Akron is located closer to Cleveland than any other NFL city, heavily influencing his decision. He has reportedly supported the Browns previously, but is now a full-time fan of the team.
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