LeBron James

On Dec. 8. Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, wearing an "I Can't Breathe" shirt, warms up before an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center in New York. A social activist most of his adult life, Cleveland Browns Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown has been encouraged to see athletes make powerful societal statements and voice their opinions in the wake of recent protests around the country.

(Kathy Willens)

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James urged the city of Cleveland to remain calm and channel its energy into the Cavaliers' playoff run in the aftermath of a judge's decision to acquit a police officer of manslaughter in a 2012 shooting which led to the death of two African-Americans.

"For the city of Cleveland, let's use our excitement or whatever passion that we have for our sport tomorrow, for the game tomorrow night, bring it tomorrow night ... our team we'll try to do our best to give it back to them," James said following the Cavaliers' light workout today. His team leads the Hawks 2-0 in the Eastern Conference finals with Game 3 set for 8:30 p.m. tomorrow in Cleveland.

Spokesmen for the Cavaliers and the NBA said the team and league are in touch with local law enforcement officials in the event any protests turn violent, especially near Quicken Loans Arena.

This morning, Cuyahoga Common Pleas Judge John P. O'Donnell found Cleveland police officer Michael Brelo not guilty on two charges of voluntary manslaughter in connection with the Nov. 29, 2012 police chase and shooting that led to the deaths of Timothy Russell and Malissa Williams.

James declined to comment on the ruling itself immediately, though he said he may release a statement after he does some research. City, county, and state officials have quietly prepared for weeks to guard against violence in the aftermath of a not-guilty verdict, and as of 4 p.m. the small protests downtown were peaceful.

Outspoken over the past few years about some high-profile incidents of force that resulted in the deaths of African-Americans, James said "violence is not the answer and it's all about trying to find a solution for good or for bad."

James made similar statements in the immediate aftermath of separate decisions by grand juries not to charge police in the deaths of unarmed African-Americans in Ferguson, Missouri and New York in 2014, and of the shooting death of Tamir Rice by Cleveland police last year.

In protest over the decision not to charge New York police in the death of Eric Garner, James and Kyrie Irving wore "I Can't Breathe" T-shirts prior to a game in Brooklyn against the Nets on Dec. 8.

"For me, in any case, anything that goes on in our world, in our America, the only people that we should be worried about is the families that's lost loved ones," James said today. "You can't get them back, you can never get them back and we should worry about the families and how they're doing and things of that nature."

James said a positive development in the sporting world for a community, such as a deep playoff run for the Cavs, can help heal a community.

"It doesn't matter what city it is, something that's going through a city that's very traumatic, traumatizing or anything of that case, I think sports is the biggest healers in helping the city out," he said.

"Sports just does something to people, either if you're a player, you're a fan, if you just have something that has anything to do with that city, you just feel a certain way about rooting for a team that you love, get your mind off some of the hardships that may be going on throughout your life or maybe that particular time or period. It just does that."