Not letting LeBron off the hook for this because ultimately it is his decision, but when he speaks about these things sometimes I get the impression that he's a guy being goaded by handlers/managers into weighing in on certain things that he probably genuinely does want to weigh into, but isn't the best at going about it. He has the look of a guy a lot of times who wants to say something (but doesn't know what exactly), and he has a bunch of people suggesting that he say certain things, and what comes out is a blend of his own views + whatever his handlers think sounds good or will help his image. Take the infamous clip where he's speaking to the media about reading a book that Malcolm X wrote. Now, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he might be actually reading the book, but when he talked with the media it was clear he hadn't read much or knew next to nothing about it, and I think the idea to walk about there, book in hand, and just start talking about it was probably an idea from a handler. Watch the clip - it feels so awkward and contrived.
As mentioned previously I think he's acutely aware of the criticism MJ received about not being enough on board with the political causes people wanted him to be, and wants to avoid that. However if you do weigh in, you of course take criticism from people who disagree with you. Ultimately, people in his position have to decide if they want to take criticism from their own side (if they say nothing) or from the other side.
