Bill Russell: Being criticized by Trump is the ‘biggest compliment you can get’

NBA legend Bill Russell praised LeBron James and CNN host Don Lemon after President Trump attacked the two men, saying they “must be doing something right.”

Russell also cited Reps. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) and John Lewis (D-Ga.), as well as NFL players attacked by Trump, saying that at “this time & place for any African American …to be criticised by @realdonaldtrump means you must be doing something right!”{mosads}

“As I have said before- Its the biggest compliment you can get,” he added. 

At this time & place for any African American, @KingJames @donlemon @RepMaxineWaters @repjohnlewis & #NFL plyrs to be criticised by @realdonaldtrump means you must be doing something right! As I have said before- Its the biggest compliment you can get. @TwitterSports @MSNBC @CNN

— TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) August 4, 2018

The former Celtics star and coach has previously shared images of him kneeling while wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in solidarity with athletes who kneel during the national anthem. Russell was the first African-American to coach a major professional sports team.

Trump has attacked players who kneel during the anthem to protest racial injustice.

Trump targeted James and Lemon in a tweet late Friday, writing that James “was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon” who “made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do.”

Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2018

Others have come forward to defend James, including NBA legend Michael Jordan, who praised James for “doing an amazing job for his community.”

Lemon interviewed James earlier this week about the former Cleveland Cavaliers star’s new “I Promise” school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

The NBA player was critical of Trump during the interview, saying that the president was trying to use sports to “divide” the country.