Mehdi Hasan Attacks LeBron James Over Israel Comments At All Star Game

It didn’t take much to set off another social media firestorm.

During NBA All-Star weekend at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was asked a straightforward question: Did he have a message for fans in Israel?

James, appearing in his 22nd All-Star Game, responded calmly. He praised Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija the only active NBA player from Israel calling him deserving of All-Star recognition and “playing exceptional basketball.”

As for Israeli fans, James said he hoped they had followed his career and felt inspired by it.

“If I have fans over there, then I hope you’ve been following my career,” James said. “I hope I inspire people over there to not only want to be great at sports but be better in general in life. So, hopefully someday I could make it over there. Like I said, I’ve never been over there but I heard great things.”

That was enough to draw a sharp rebuke from commentator Mehdi Hasan.

“What a disgrace LeBron is,” Hasan wrote on X.

Hasan, a former MSNBC host who has frequently taken hardline positions against Israel, has been outspoken since the October 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks that left more than 1,200 Israelis dead and hundreds taken hostage. Israel’s military response and the ensuing conflict have sparked global debate, protests, and heated exchanges across social media.

But James’ remarks were hardly political. He offered no commentary on the conflict, no endorsement of policy just a nod to fans and to Avdija’s performance.

Deni Avdija, now an All-Star for the first time in his career, is one of only four Israeli players to ever appear in the NBA, joining Omri Casspi, T.J. Leaf, and Gal Mekel. His selection was a milestone for Israeli basketball and a moment of pride for fans in the country.

The backlash toward James highlights a broader pattern: In today’s hyper-politicized climate, even the most neutral statements can trigger outrage. Public figures are increasingly expected to either denounce or endorse geopolitical positions silence or simple goodwill often isn’t enough.

Sports and politics have collided repeatedly in recent years. According to a Pew Research survey, a majority of Americans say sports have become more political over the past decade. Meanwhile, Gallup polling shows that Americans are deeply divided in their sympathies regarding the Israel–Hamas conflict, reflecting broader partisan fractures.

James himself is no stranger to political controversy. He has spoken out on issues ranging from policing to voting rights, and he has been both praised and criticized for weighing in on international affairs in the past.

Yet in this case, his remarks were notably restrained.

He acknowledged Avdija’s talent. He expressed appreciation for potential fans. He avoided commentary on foreign policy altogether.

Still, for Hasan, even that was too much.

The episode underscores how fraught public discourse around Israel has become. For some activists, any expression of goodwill toward Israeli fans even in the context of sports is viewed as unacceptable. For others, the idea that an athlete cannot simply wish fans well without triggering condemnation is itself a troubling sign of how polarized debate has become.

As the NBA continues to expand its global reach, players will inevitably be asked about international audiences. Whether those interactions must always pass an ideological purity test remains an open question.

For now, a routine All-Star press conference has become the latest flashpoint in the culture wars proof that in 2026, even a message of inspiration can spark outrage.

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