NBA star LeBron James has insisted that he will not allow US President Donald Trump to use sport to "divide" the nation.
The leader of the United States called on NFL bosses to sack players if they did not stand for the national anthem before matches across America.
Many of the sport's stars have sat down or dropped to their knee during the anthem as a protest against the racial injustice in the country, and now basketball legend James has had his say on the matter.
During a Cleveland Cavaliers media day, the three-time NBA champion told reporters: "The NFL coaches, players, owners and fans and anyone associated with the NFL was unbelievable. There was solidarity, there was no divide. I'm not going to let one individual, no matter their power, ever use sport as a platform to divide us.
"Sport is so amazing, what it can do for everyone. No matter the shape, size, weight, ethnicity, religion or whatever - people find teams, players and colours because of sport. It brings people together like none other.
"We know this is the greatest country in the world - the land of the free - but we still have problems just like everybody else. When we have those problems, we can't forget how great we can be as a people because the people run this country and not one individual, and damn sure not him.
"I will lend my voice, my passion and my money to the youth, to my inner city and those outside my inner city. I want to let these kids know there is hope and not one individual, no matter if it's the president of the United States or someone in your household, that can stop your dreams from becoming a reality."
Over the last couple of days, Trump has taken to Twitter to accuse the NFL players of 'disrespecting' the United States.
Danielle Joynson
