NBA legend Bill Russell praised LeBron James and CNN host Don Lemon Don Carlton LemonCNN's Don Lemon: 'Blow up the entire system' remark taken out of context CNN's Lemon: 'We're going to have to blow up the entire system' if Democrats win back White House, Senate Scaramucci to Lemon: Trump 'doubling down' on downplaying virus 'should scare' viewers MORE after President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE attacked the two men, saying they “must be doing something right.”

Russell also cited Reps. Maxine Waters Maxine Moore WatersPowell, Mnuchin stress limits of current emergency lending programs Pelosi: House will stay in session until agreement is reached on coronavirus relief Omar invokes father's death from coronavirus in reaction to Woodward book MORE (D-Calif.) and John Lewis John LewisTrump to pay respects to Ginsburg at Supreme Court Democrats urge Biden to resist filibuster, court-packing calls Rep. Bill Pascrell named chair of House oversight panel MORE (D-Ga.), as well as NFL players attacked by Trump, saying that at “this time & place for any African American …to be criticised by @realdonaldtrump means you must be doing something right!”

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“As I have said before- Its the biggest compliment you can get,” he added.

At this time & place for any African American, @KingJames @donlemon @RepMaxineWaters @repjohnlewis & #NFL plyrs to be criticised by @realdonaldtrump means you must be doing something right! As I have said before- Its the biggest compliment you can get. @TwitterSports @MSNBC @CNN — TheBillRussell (@RealBillRussell) August 4, 2018

The former Celtics star and coach has previously shared images of him kneeling while wearing his Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in solidarity with athletes who kneel during the national anthem. Russell was the first African-American to coach a major professional sports team.

Trump has attacked players who kneel during the anthem to protest racial injustice.

Trump targeted James and Lemon in a tweet late Friday, writing that James "was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon" who "made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do."

Lebron James was just interviewed by the dumbest man on television, Don Lemon. He made Lebron look smart, which isn’t easy to do. I like Mike! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 3, 2018

Others have come forward to defend James, including NBA legend Michael Jordan, who praised James for "doing an amazing job for his community."

Lemon interviewed James earlier this week about the former Cleveland Cavaliers star's new "I Promise" school for at-risk children in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

The NBA player was critical of Trump during the interview, saying that the president was trying to use sports to "divide" the country.