U.S. basketball superstar LeBron James says the NBA community will not be "sad" to lose Donald Trump as a viewer of the game after the President said it was "disgraceful" of players to kneel during the pre-game national anthem.

A majority of NBA players and coaches have kneeled during the national anthem in protest of police brutality and support of the Black Lives Matters movement. The same gesture has been witnessed in sporting activities across the world, including the English Premier League.

But Trump in a telephone interview with Fox and Friends on Wednesday morning termed the gesture "not acceptable."

"When I see people kneeling during the playing and disrespecting our flag and national anthem, what I do personally is turn off the game. I think it's disgraceful. We work with [the NBA], we worked with them very hard trying to get open. I was pushing for them to get open. Then I see everybody kneeling during the anthem. That's not acceptable to me. When I see them kneeling during the game, I just turn off the game. I have no interest in the game," Trump said.

In response, James said basketball would not stop because the president turned off his television.

"I really don't think the basketball community are sad about losing his viewership, him viewing the game. And that's all I got to say," said James.

"But we also respect what else we try to bring to the game and acknowledge it – what is right and what is wrong. And I hope everyone, no matter the race, no matter the colour, no matter the size, will see what leadership that we have at the top in our country and understand that November is right around the corner and it's a big moment for us as Americans," the Los Angeles Lakers star added.

"If we continue to talk about, We want better, we want change, we have an opportunity to do that. But the game will go on without his eyes on it. I can sit here and speak for all of us that love the game of basketball: We could care less."

(With input from agencies)