DETROIT _ LeBron James said he believes former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by NFL owners for starting national anthem protests around the league, James told ESPN's Dave McMenamin.
"The only reason I could say he's not on a team is because the way he took a knee," James told McMenamin after the Cavs practiced Sunday at Cass Technical High School for a story published on ESPN.com Monday.
"That's the only reason. I watch football every Sunday, every Thursday, every Monday night. I see all these quarterbacks _ first-string, second-team, third-team quarterbacks _ that play sometimes when the starter gets hurt or are starters that play. Kap is better than a lot of those guys. Let's just be honest.
"I love football, but I'm not part of the NFL. I don't represent the NFL. I don't know their rules and regulations. But I do know Kap is getting a wrong doing. You see all these other quarterbacks out there and players out there that get all these second and third chances that are nowhere near as talented as him. It just feels like he's been blackballed out of the NFL."
Kaepernick, 30, opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers in March after being benched for some games last season and has not played since Jan. 1. Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl after the 2012 season and has thrown for 12,271 yards and 72 touchdowns with 30 interceptions in his career.
On Instagram, James posted the most recent cover of GQ as the magazine honored Kaepernick as its "Citizen of the Year." In a discussion of national issues at Cavs media day in late September, James brought up Kaepernick while discussing the anthem protests.
"I salute Colin Kaepernick for being as powerful as he was and being the one who had to fall on his sword unfortunately," James said on Sept. 25. "I hate that and I hope _ I wish I owned an NFL team right now, [because] I'd sign him today."
James told ESPN Sunday, "For him to sacrifice the sport that he plays and to sacrifice the things he's done his whole life because he knew what he believed in, I salute him. I salute and respect that."
