To say that the Black Panther movie has been a huge inspiration to people of color would be a humongous understatement. It’s smashing box-office records and is appears to be one of those iconic films we’ll look back on in decades as a turning point in American culture.
Yet, if you ask San Antonio Spurs head coach, there’s another superhero that has made this kind of impact already — LeBron James. Pop called James “a brilliant example for millions of kids,” and compared him to Black Panther.
Gregg Popovich on LeBron James: "He's been a brilliant example for millions of kids. … It's kind of like the Black Panther movie. How cool is that for kids to see and have that superhero? LeBron's been that for a long time." (📹:@clevelanddotcom) pic.twitter.com/tvdSYGWwpr
— Ball Don’t Lie (@Balldontlie) February 25, 2018
Considering all the work James has done in his community, it’s hard to argue with Pop here. He’s also become very vocal in recent years, advocating for change and progress while speaking out against people and things he views as detrimental.
Is James a real-life superhero? Well, that’s a subjective question. But one thing we know for sure is that his influence is unparalleled in the United States.