LeBron’s trophy shelf is about to get a bit more crowded.
The Akron native is the latest recipient of the NAACP’s Jackie Robinson Sports Award.
James joins Cleveland Browns great Jim Brown and another NBA superstar by the name of Michael Jordan to be given the award for “high achievement in athletics and contributions in the pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement.”
Robinson was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball’s modern era — a monumental milestone not lost on James.
“[The award] just puts a lot of things in perspective,” James said. “I am so appreciative that they would even want me to be a recipient of the award, and it just goes back to what Jackie meant.
“Not only playing the game that he played, but what he used that platform to do. To stand up and be the man that he was through those difficult times, for a bigger cause, for obviously guys like myself that can be free and do whatever I want to do in this profession.”
The award comes as James has been a more outspoken on social issues on and off the court, from wearing a T-shirt during warm ups with dying words “I can’t breathe” of Eric Garner as died in a 2014 confrontation with a New York Police Department officer to his speech at last year’s ESPY Awards decrying violence toward African Americans to his public endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president.
He even donated $2.5 million late last year to help pay for an exhibit at the Smithsonian to honor another sports great and fighter for social change — Muhammad Ali.
James said Robinson bravely forged a path for future professional athletes like himself.
“Just look what those athletes before us had to go through,” James said. “Just look at what Jackie, Muhammad, Bill Russell, Kareem and Jim Brown and Oscar Robertson and all those guys had to go through just to play the game that they love. They sacrificed themselves for athletes like myself today to have a platform to be able to speak out on things we’re educated about.
“I don’t talk just to talk. I’m educated on what I speak about. I’m passionate about what I speak about, but those guys sacrificed everything.”
James said it is important for sports figures to speak out.
“People are going to have their comments about certain things, but if you’re comfortable talking about certain issues then do it,” he said. “If not, then don’t do it.
“But for me, I come from an educated mind, I come from a passionate background and like I said, those athletes paved the way for guys like myself.”
Aside from on-court greatness that has included three NBA titles and a first one for the Cavs last season, James also is being recognized with the award for his work through his namesake LeBron James Family Foundation to encourage Akron school kids in his I PROMISE initiative to stay in school and pursue a tuition-free college degree.
Roslyn M. Brock, chairman of the National Board of Directors for the NAACP, will present the award during pre-game before the Cavs take on the Timberwolves Wednesday night.
The ceremony will be shown later when the 48th NAACP Image Awards are aired at 9 p.m. Feb. 11 on the TV One cable network.
Jason Lloyd contributed to this article. Craig Webb can be reached at cwebb@thebeaconjournal.com or 330-996-3547.