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LeBron James seems to wonder if fellow basketball star Brittney Griner will want to live in the U.S. again if she’s released from the Russian prison she currently calls home.
In a promotional clip for his YouTube talkshow “The Shop,” James appears to believe that Griner, who was arrested in Russia in mid-February, would not want to return to the nation that has been unable to bring her home amid difficult relations with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
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“How can she feel like America has her back?” James said. “I would be feeling like, ‘Do I even want to go back to America?’ ”
The 31-year-old WNBA star was apprehended for allegedly possessing hashish oil at an airport near Moscow. She reportedly pleaded guilty last week and faces sentencing Thursday.
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Her incarceration has coincided with Russia’s war with Ukraine, which has had the support of the U.S. and its allies. Putin ordered Russian troops into its neighboring nation on Feb. 24.
Griner’s wife of three years, Cherelle Griner, has spoken with the White House about bringing her spouse home. Representatives of the WNBA, as well as community leaders and activists, have urged U.S. officials to bring the Houston, Texas, native home. She plays for the Phoenix Mercury.
Like James, Griner stands 6-foot-9 and has won two Olympic gold medals.
He posted a promo for his upcoming episode of “The Shop” on Twitter with a caption reading, “This one’s a global affair.”
James has nearly 52 million followers on Twitter.
Griner’s WNBA coach Vanessa Nygaard speculated last week that her star may be getting less support because she’s a gay woman.
“If it was LeBron, he’d be home, right?” she asked USA Today.
According to a letter Griner reportedly sent to President Biden, coming back to the U.S. is a priority.
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“I sit here in a Russian prison, alone with my thoughts and without the protection of my wife, family, friends, Olympic jersey, or any accomplishments,” she wrote. “I’m terrified I might be here forever.”
