LeBron James of NBA's Los Angeles Lakers criticized NFL owners, calling them "a bunch of old white men" with "slave mentality" in the latest episode of HBO's "The Shop" on Friday night.

"In the NFL they got a bunch of old white men owning teams, and they got that slave mentality. And it's like, 'This is my team. You do what the **** I tell y'all to do or we get rid of y'all'," said James.

Of all 32 NFL teams, only two are owned by people of color, according to "The 2017 Racial and Gender Report Card: NFL" by The Institute of Diversity and Ethics in Sport. In 2011, Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings described the league's labor situation as "modern-day slavery." In July, veteran defensive back Richard Sherman said the Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones have "the old plantation mentality" as Jones required his players to stand during the national anthem.

Back in 2016, quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers started to kneel down during the national anthem before the games to protest against racial injustice and systematic oppression in the U.S. In response, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduced new rules to require that "all team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the anthem". As for Kaepernick, he remained a free agent since he left the 49ers in 2016.

James believes that NBA is different. "The difference between the NBA and the NFL, the NBA is what we believe he (a player) can be. The potential. In the NFL, it's like what can you do for me this Sunday, or this Monday or this Thursday, and if you ain't it, we moving on," said James.

James also commended NBA commissioner Adam Silver who's okay with players having "real feelings" and "be able to express that". According to James, Silver will hear players out and accept their actions if they are being committed "in a very educational, nonviolent way".

The 33-year-old super star said that players are behind success of the major sports leagues in North America. "The players are who make the ship go. We make it go. Every Sunday, without Todd Gurley and without Odell Beckham Jr., without those players, those guys, there is no football. And it's the same in the NBA."