WNBA star and Olympic gold medalist Brittney Griner is still detained in Russia, and the issue has reverberated in the sporting world as tensions between Russia and the United States increased due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Griner plays for the Phoenix Mercury. The team's head coach made it clear that they feel that the U.S. government is not doing enough to send her back home. She famously said that if it were LeBron James detained in Russia, he would have been brought back home to the United States already.

Now, the Los Angeles Lakers star forward recently talked about Griner's situation in an interview with The Shop.

Lebron James Says if He Were Brittney Griner, He Would Not Be Sure if He Wants To Go Back Home

The Shop released a trailer of their interview with Lebron James. There, the Lakers star questioned whether Griner should return to the country. Lakers Daily reported that James said that Griner feels like America does not have her back, and because of this, she should ask whether or not she wants to go back.

This is not the first time Lebron has talked about Griner, as he previously urged both President Joe Boden and Vice President Kamala Harris to bring the Phoenix Mercury center back home to the United States, according to Yahoo! News.

READ MORE: Phoenix: Brittney Griner's Wife Reveals Painful Story of Failed Phone Call From WNBA Star Amid Detention in Russia

WNBA Stars Honor Brittney Griner at WNBA All-Star Game

Lebron James' comments have put more spotlight on Griner's situation, which was also the focus of the recently-concluded WNBA All-Star game. All 22 of the league's all-stars wore jersey no. 42, the number Griner wears for the Phoenix Mercury.

The league also named Griner an honorary all-star this year, even if she did not play any game yet this season due to her detention in Russia. According to Yahoo! News, Las Vegas Aces star A'ja Wilson said they all wore no. 42 to show everyone that Griner's situation is real and that they will not stop until everyone understands how serious it is.

Brittney Griner's Wife Talked to Joe Biden via Phone

The WNBA show of solidarity during the All-Star Game came after news broke that Cherelle Griner, the wife of Brittney Griner, finally talked with President Joe Biden.

The White House said that the president reassured Cherelle that he is working hard to secure her wife's release, as well as the release of other U.S. nationals being wrongfully detained or held hostage in Russia. They previously confirmed that President Biden has already read Brittney Griner's handwritten letter to him.

Griner, who played for UMMC Ekaterinburg in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was detained at the Sheremetyevo International Airport on February 17 because officials found cannabis oil on her vape cartridges. U.S. officials have noted that Russia made things difficult as they did not allow U.S.officials access to her immediately.

The United States government has classified her as "wrongfully detained," which means that they will seek to negotiate for her release rather than letting her case play out without any intervention if she were truly guilty of the crime she was accused of.

Griner's trial began last July 1 in Russia. She has already pleaded guilty to her crime. It is noted that Russian officials often require the "admission of guilt" as part of any deal to send foreign prisoners back home.

READ MORE: Brittney Griner Update: WNBA Star Sends Emotional Letter to Joe Biden Amid Russia Detention

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Written by: Rick Martin

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