The United States president elect Donald Trump has received a lot of criticism from the sports world since being elected, as many athletes and coaches have expressed their concern with the state of the nation with him in charge.
Most recently, Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and some of his teammates said that they would not stay at the Trump Hotel in New York while there for two days to play against the New York Knicks.
Additionally, the Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies and Dallas Mavericks were also supposed to stay there and backed out within the last month.
With the Los Angeles Lakers scheduled to played the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in the second game of their seven-game road trip, it appears they have backed out of staying at the Trump Hotel, although according to Tania Ganguli of the LA Times it is for security reasons, not political:
Due to security concerns, Lakers will no longer be staying at a Trump hotel in NY this week. Source stressed it isn't a political statement.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) December 13, 2016
Since Trump was elected at the beginning of November, there have been a number of protests outside the New York hotel and that is why the Lakers will not be staying there:
Main concern for Lakers in changing their hotel was that potential protests might be disruptive to the team as they prepare for the Nets.
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) December 13, 2016
NBA head coaches like Stan Van Gundy, Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich have also spoken out about their disapproval of Trump, although they have not backed out of staying at the hotel.
The Lakers only play the Nets in New York once per season, but the Trump Hotel has become one of the most popular hotels for teams to stay at since the Nets moved to Brooklyn in 2012.