LeBron James feels that Colin Kaepernick is being blackballed by NFL

Add LeBron James to the chorus of Colin Kaepernick supporters in the sports world who believe the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback is being blackballed by the NFL because of his role in popularizing player protests before games.

"I love football, but I'm not part of the NFL," James told ESPN following the Cleveland Cavaliers' practice Sunday. "I don't represent the NFL. I don't know their rules and regulations. But I do know Kap is getting a wrong doing. I do know that. Just watching, he's an NFL player. He's an NFL player and you see all these other quarterbacks out there and players out there that get all these second and third chances that are nowhere near as talented as him. It just feels like he's been blackballed out of the NFL. So, I definitely do not respect that."

Kaepernick signed a six-year, $126 million extension with the Niners in June 2014, a season after throwing for 302 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception and rushing for an additional 62 yards and a touchdown in San Francisco's 34-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII. He opted out of his contract in March and has been sidelined ever since while more than 40 quarterbacks have received NFL contracts during that time span.

"The only reason I could say he's not on a team is because the way he took a knee," James said. "That's the only reason. I watch football every Sunday, every Thursday, every Monday night. I see all these quarterbacks -- first-string, second-team, third-team quarterbacks -- that play sometimes when the starter gets hurt or are starters that play. Kap is better than a lot of those guys. Let's just be honest."

Earlier in the week, James shared the latest cover of GQ on his Instagram account. Kaepernick, who is on the cover, was named the magazine's citizen of the year.

And on Cavs media day in September, James declared he wished he owned an NFL team, because "I'd sign him today."

James' comments Sunday, spoken at famed Cass Technical High School in Detroit -- the alma mater of many prominent African-American performers including Diana Ross and Della Reese -- were as pointed as anything he has said on the subject of Kaepernick and his role in shedding light on the injustices facing minorities in the United States.