Two of the biggest names in sports, Michael Jordan and Lebron James, are often brought up when arguing who the greatest basketball player of all time is. However, a recent incident has caused one to come to the defense of the other, showing not only sportsmanship but also a respect that goes deeper than the game of basketball.

Donald Trump / Twitter

The tweet above shows the President of the United States using a social media platform to publicly embarrass star athlete Lebron James. President Trump's word choice shows a lack of respect for James and implies his preference for Michael Jordan over James himself.

Sporting News / Twitter

Here we have the statement that was released soon after Trump's tweet became viral and caused much discussion among sports fans and professionals. This was released by Michael Jordan, the former professional basketball player who was a player in the NBA for 15 years. As the current owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Jordan is still heavily involved with the National Basketball Association and is heard when he speaks. Therefore, when he stepped up for James, it caused much conversation.

So, why does all this matter at all?

First off, let us consider the platform through which the person in power of this country decided to use to release a statement on two people who are constantly in the public eye. Social media, specifically Twitter in this case, although is slowly transitioning into a news and multimedia platform, is primarily for entertainment purposes. The President of the United States using Twitter to release a statement that publicly humiliates a public figure and then goes on to express a personal opinion that continues to embarrass James is unprincipled and does not align with a country's expectations of how their leader should act.

On the other hand, Michael Jordan speaking up and standing beside LeBron James reveals a sense of community that athletes reside in outside of the competitive world. The competition between James and Jordan regarding who the greatest is is a conversation that will never end, but also often leaves one or the other in a negative light.

These two athletes are so often put against each other that is easy to forget the friendships and sense of respect that is created through being great at one's sport of choice. It reveals multiple layers to professional sports that fans rarely see, and reminds fans and players what sports are really about.