What happened: Philadelphia 76ers forward LeBron James laughed off President Donald Trump's demand for an apology over his national anthem warmup routine, joking after Thursday's win over the Cleveland Cavaliers that it was a "slow news day at the office." Trump had criticized James on Truth Social and at a Sioux City, Iowa, rally after the four-time champion performed rotational exercises and shooting motions during the anthem before Tuesday's opener against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Sixers head coach Nick Nurse dismissed the remarks pregame as "outside noise" and praised his roster's focus in the film room and on the court.

Why it matters: Philadelphia opened the 2026-27 campaign with title expectations after adding James on a two-year, $8 million deal alongside Jaylen Brown, and the locker room has kept early distractions from derailing its unbeaten start. The verbal clash extends a long-running political feud between James and Trump that dates back to 2017, when Trump withdrew a White House invitation for Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

What to watch: The unbeaten 76ers will look to build on their 2-0 start as Nurse continues integrating James and Brown into Philadelphia's starting rotation.