Actor and comedian Jimmie Walker slammed “upset” and “angry” NBA stars who are always complaining despite living lives of luxury.
The long-time television star believes National Basketball Association players, like LeBron James, KD and Kyrie Irving should have “no political views,” and focus instead on being grateful.
(Video: YouTube/TMZ Sports)
“If I was there, I would be out shooting right now,” the 72-year-old Walker said when TMZ Sports asked him about the rich and famous NBA players.
“I would be practicing now. If I were five-years-old, I would be shooting right now, practicing. Forget about school, forget about that stuff, forget about acting…start shooting, getting your jump shot in,” he said while waiting on his luggage at an airport.
The star of the hit 1970’s sitcom “Good Times” admitted he wanted to be a basketball player once but was not that good at the sport. Now, he noted, the problem he has is with the current NBA stars who make millions of dollars but still complain and get into divisive political arguments.
“The thing that upsets me the most about NBA players is they’re so upset, they’re so angry,” he said. “Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant … what are you upset about? I’m happy if I’m making that kind of money! They’re always complaining.”
Walker believes the stars have disconnected from what real life is, getting caught up in their stardom.
“They don’t understand what it’s like to be in real life,” he said. “Real life is getting your own bags off the [luggage] carousel. No charters, no limos waiting for you.”
“That’s what real life is about,” he added before going on to criticize the political posturing of athletes, like former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick who made headlines this week after he reportedly voiced his opposition to a planned release of a Nike sneaker featuring the so-called Betsy Ross version of the U.S. flag. Nike pulled the shoe from production, sparking a wave of backlash just ahead of the 4th of July.
Nike yanks USA-themed sneaker celebrating Fourth of July after Colin Kaepernick complains https://t.co/2eAEs5Oxr7
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) July 2, 2019
“I don’t think they should get political,” Walker said of players.
“First of all, I don’t think that when you’re making $150 million a year, people don’t want to hear your political views, he explained.
“They should have no political views. They should be very happy to say, ‘I’m doing good.’ Donate to charity, do your basketball charity benefits or whatever, but don’t put people down,” Walker said. “Just say, ‘I’m very fortunate to be here. I’m lucky and I’m very happy.'”
The veteran comedian has gotten his share of flak for speaking out in support of President Trump.
“I’m for probably 90 percent of the things he does,” he said back in 2017, admitting that saying anything positive about Trump was obviously not the norm in Hollywood.
He noted last year that in doing his stand up comedy routines, his goal is to make people laugh rather than taking cheap shots at Trump like his Hollywood colleagues.
‘Good Times’ star Jimmie Walker won’t mock Trump for good reason and he has best advice ever for Dems https://t.co/Ag2DwwZrZX pic.twitter.com/OJQUeX9NBi
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) August 8, 2018
Speaking with TMZ, Walker contended that the political commentary from players only results in “polarizing” and “offending” people who are working and “making 40 to 50 grand a year and you’re making that in a couple of games.”
The fans can’t even support the players, he added, because “they can’t even afford to go” to their games.
TMZ’s reporter asked Walker what he thought of Kaepernick’s contention that the Betsy Ross flag hearkened back to a time of slavery in early America.
“I’ve never seen a slave pull up to an arena in a 2020 Mercedes-Benz,” Walker quipped. “So when you see a slave pull up to the back of arena in a 2020 Mercedes-Benz, let me know.”
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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