LeBron says NFL owners are 'old white men' with 'slave mentality'

LeBron James has criticized NFL owners for wanting to “control” players and praised NBA commissioner Adam Silver for his support of players who use their platform to speak out on social issues.

LeBron James has been outspoken about injustices in the United States and in other sports.

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James made some poignant comments about NFL owners on Friday.

James, 33, blasted owners for their approach in the NFL, saying they were inflexible.

"In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams and they got that slave mentality. And it's like, 'This is my team. You do what the f*** I tell y'all to do. Or we get rid of y'all," James said on his show, The Shop, via the Washington Post .

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James' show, The Shop, features the four-time MVP alongside other athletes and influential people from across the nation.

Friday's episode featured James' friend and business partner Maverick Carter, rapper and actor Ice Cube and Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley.

The Lakers star has started to speak more on social issues in recent years and has been outspoken about injustices he has seen in the United States and in other sports. He had comments in particular on USA president Donald Trump's stance against NFL players taking a knee.

The four-time MVP went on to say he appreciates NBA commissioner Adam Silver for how he not only runs the league, but how he interacts with the players.

"I'm so appreciative in our league of our commissioner," James said.

"He doesn't mind us having ... a real feeling and to be able to express that. It doesn't even matter if Adam agrees with what we are saying, he at least wants to hear us out. As long as we are doing it in a very educational, non-violent way, then he's absolutely okay with it."