NBA commissioner Adam Silver has backed LeBron James in his ongoing social media spat with US president Donald Trump.
Trump questioned the intelligence of the four-time MVP in a tweet on Friday but Silver highlighted James' business acumen and philanthropy in his defence of one of the game's leading lights.
"LeBron is one of the all-time greatest NBA players and one of the most accomplished athletes," Silver said in a statement obtained by USA Today.
"He runs a very successful media company. He's sent hundreds of students to college and just opened a school in Akron where at-risk students will receive free tuition, meals and transportation.
"I greatly admire his intelligence and business acumen and have enormous respect and appreciation for what he does in his community."
