Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James clarified his comments in a trailer of the latest episode of "The Shop", in which he said he would not be sure of returning to the US if he is Brittney Griner.
"She's been there over 110 days. Now, how could she feel like America has her back? I would be feeling like, 'Do I even want to go back to America?', James notably said in the video trailer.
On Tuesday night, LeBron James brought to Twitter his clarification that his remarks in the teaser were meant to express sympathy for Griner rather than criticism of the US efforts to secure Griner's release. per Sports Illustrated.
James tweeted: "I was simply saying how she's probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she's been in for over 100+ days."
My comments on “The Shop” regarding Brittney Griner wasn’t knocking our beautiful country. I was simply saying how she’s probably feeling emotionally along with so many other emotions, thoughts, etc inside that cage she’s been in for over 100+ days! Long story short #BringHerHome
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 13, 2022
Griner has been detained in what the State Department has called wrongful imprisonment, and President Joe Biden and his administration have come under heavy fire for not bringing the WNBA star back to the United States.
The WNBA star would be in the United States if she were James, Mercury coach Vanessa Nygaard commented last week.
Nygaard said: "If it was LeBron, he'd be home, right? It's a statement about the value of women. It's a statement about the value of a black person. It's a statement about the value of a gay person. All of those things. We know it, and so that's what hurts a little more."
Silver Comments on the Biden Administration's Efforts
The NBA and WNBA are "doing everything in our power" to bring Griner home, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver reaffirmed.
On the Fourth of July, Brittney Griner wrote to President Biden. She mentioned in a portion of the letter, "I'm terrified I might be here forever."
Silver said he accepts that the Biden administration is doing "everything they can" about the Brittney Griner Russia situation.
"There are some seriously complex geopolitical issues here. And I'm sure as invariably as they are more focused on Brittney, other families are of course concerned about their loved ones who are being held against their will in Russia right now. ... There are very difficult issues that the Biden administration has to face in terms of what's appropriate," Silver remarked.
No Clear Steps Yet from Washington
Washington has not yet made clear how it intends to proceed on the matter, and given how strongly it opposes Moscow for its aggression toward Ukraine, The US government may not have much influence on the situation. Griner's fate is now under the hands of Washington's special presidential envoy for hostage affairs, who is essentially the US government's top hostage negotiator.
According to National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has spoken with the National Security Council, but he declined to comment on his plans in light of rumors that he may visit Russia and push to secure Griner's release, as per a report from ABC 7.
Since February 17, Brittney Griner has been in prison in Russia for carrying marijuana vape cartridges. She recently pled guilty to the charge, according to New York Post.
