TORONTO — After supporting Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential election in a social media post Thursday, Lakers star LeBron James explained his decision after the team’s 131-125 victory over the Toronto Raptors Friday evening.

“I was going to do it on game day in Cleveland (Wednesday), but I didn’t want to overshadow all the hype around me going home with Bronny (James),” LeBron explained. “That’s when I planned to do it.” I thought (Thursday) would be a good day.

“It was all pretty quiet and I wanted to make sure that was seen and heard and heard loudly. So having a daughter, a wife, a mother and things of that nature, what she believes in when it comes to women’s rights, when it comes to my children’s future and where our country should go, I think as if this approval were quite right.

LeBron posted on X (formerly known as Twitter) and Instagram: “What are we talking about here?? When I think about my children and my family and how they will grow up, the choice is clear to me. VOTE KAMALA HARRIS!!!

The post contains a video that begins with comedian Tony Hinchcliffe making a racist joke at a rally for former President Donald Trump on Sunday at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The video ends with the phrase “Hate brings us back” typed.

James supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election and Hillary Clinton before the 2016 election.

“And come on, I mean, you know me,” James said. “I’m sure I wasn’t going the other way.”

In June 2020, James formed More Than a Vote, a nonprofit organization fighting for voting rights for Black Americans and advocating for criminal justice reform in the United States.

Nneka Ogwumike, a nine-time WNBA All-Star, took over as CEO of the organization earlier this year, focusing her attention on reproductive rights ahead of this year’s election cycle.

“It all started with the ‘shut up and dribble’ thing, obviously,” James said. “And being in a position where you can have some influence and you have a lot of people who also want to be able to have influence to be able to speak outside of their field. Whether it’s sports, music, film or whatever, whatever the industry, being able to have a platform where I was able to bring a lot of men and women together to express themselves from from that moment.