CLEVELAND: LeBron James said he hasn’t listened to Kanye West’s new song, which disparages the Cavaliers’ star, and sent a veiled shot toward West for not being an athlete.
West’s new single Facts is ultimately an attack on Nike that includes the dig “Nike, Nike treat employees just like slaves; Gave LeBron a billi’ not to run away (Yo!).”
Nike and James, of course, agreed to a lifetime contract last year that will ultimately pay James hundreds of millions over his lifetime.
“I heard about it but I haven’t listened to it,” James said of the track. “Obviously I’m going to side with Nike no matter who it is. It’s family when you talk about Nike and I’m always on their side no matter what the situation.”
West previously had a partnership with the shoe giant, but it ended in 2013 when he crossed over to Adidas. West has bashed Nike for years, accusing it of withholding royalties and saying in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres he felt “suffocated” working for the company.
Adidas collaborated with West to unveil a clothing and shoe line and West used Facts to mention other Adidas clients such as James Harden and Nick Young.
“We don’t look upon nobody on our side, we just try to put the best athletes that we can out on the floor every night,” James said of Nike before reciting Phil Knight’s mantra about athletes.
“Phil Knight’s greatest saying is, ‘Always listen to the heart of the athlete, listen to the words of the athlete,’ ” James said. “And that’s all it’s about, nothing else.”
Bennett back
Former top overall pick Anthony Bennett was back in Quicken Loans Arena on Monday, but he was inactive. Bennett, selected by the Cavs in 2013, became the first top overall pick to play in the Development League earlier this season.
He rejoined the team at the start of the new year, but has only played in 10 games for the Raptors after returning home as a free agent last summer.
“He’s a talented young man who is just trying to get experience,” Raptors coach Dwane Casey said. “But it’s been tough to get him time because of the minutes that are available.”
Dribbles
• The Cavs will practice in Dallas next week at the Mo Williams Academy, which Williams opened a few years ago in the city where he lives.
• James took to Twitter on Monday to vote for some of his favorite All-Stars, including teammates Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving and good friends Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade.
• The Cavs announced a new partnership with Up&Go, an Australian breakfast brand. Australian Matthew Dellavedova previously had his own agreement with the company. The Cavs will host an “Australia Day Game” on Jan. 25 against the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Jason Lloyd can be reached at jlloyd@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Cavs blog at www.ohio.com/cavs. Follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/JasonLloydABJ.