Zlatan Ibrahimovic doubled down on his belief that LeBron James should stop getting involved in politics and stick to basketball

Summary List Placement

Zlatan Ibrahimovic has doubled down on his comments that LeBron James should stop getting involved in politics and social causes.

Last week, the AC Milan striker launched an unprovoked verbal attack on James, claiming he should keep out of such issues and stick to playing basketball.

Asked about the comments on James in a news conference on Tuesday, Ibrahimovic stood by them. According to ESPN, he said: "Athletes unite the world, politics divide it.

"Our role is to unite the world by doing what we do best. Athletes should be athletes and politicians should do politics."

Following the Swede's original comments on four-time NBA winner James, who is an avid campaigner for social justice in the United States, hit back by saying he "will never shut up about things that are wrong."

"I preach about my people and I preach about equality, social justice, racism, voter suppression — things that go on in our community," he said following the Los Angeles Lakers' victory against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday.

 

"I was a part of my community at one point and saw the things that were going on, and I know what's still going on because I have a group of 300-plus kids at my school that are going through the same thing and they need a voice," James added.

"I'm their voice and I use my platform to continue to shed light on everything that might be going on, not only in my community but in this country and around the world."

James is yet to publicly respond to Ibrahimovic's latest comments.

Join the conversation about this story »

NOW WATCH: How Benefit makes its beloved eyebrow pencils