LeBron James Makes Plea For Return Home Of Mercury's Brittney Griner

LOS ANGELES, CA —NBA superstar LeBron James on Sunday took to Twitter to make a plea for the return home of Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner, who has been detained in Russia on drug charges for over 100 days.

"We need to come together and help do whatever we possibly can to bring BG home quickly and safely!! Our voice as athletes is stronger together," James wrote on Twitter.

James also posted a message from Uninterrupted, the digital media company he runs with Maverick Carter, asking people to "join us in demanding that President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris bring Brittney home swiftly and safely by taking action today."

The message offers a website where people can learn more about the Griner case, features a change.org petition and asks people to share photos of them wearing shirts with the message "#WEAERBG," which can be purchased on the website.

"For over 100 days, BG (Griner) has faced inhumane conditions in a Russian prison and has been denied communications with her family and loved ones," the Uninterrupted message states. "As a decorated Olympian and member of an elite global sports community, BG's detention must be resolved out of respect for the sanctity of all sport and for all Americans traveling internationally.

"It is imperative that the U.S. Government immediately address this human rights issue and d0 whatever is necessary to return Brittney home."

The 31-year-old Griner, who also plays for the Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg, was arrested on Feb. 17 at a Moscow airport after vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis were allegedly found in her luggage, which could carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

In May, the U.S Department of State determined that Griner was "wrongfully detained" by Russia. It was a change in classification that suggested the U.S. government would be more active in trying to secure her release even while the legal case plays out, according to the AP.

On May 17, Griner made her first public appearance since that arrest, attending a brief hearing in a Russian courtroom, at which point the court extended Griner's pretrial detention to this month.

WNBA players and officials marked the 100th day of Griner's detention on May 28, by stepping up their calls for her release, according to AFP.

In a statement, the league wrote: "Right now, on day 100 of BG's wrongful detainment, we are calling on everyone to use their platforms, no matter the size, to bring attention to her wrongful detainment, to get (Griner's wife) Cherelle that meeting with President Biden and to get our sister home."

Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas told CNN on Friday that Griner has been able to receive some written correspondence from friends and family during her detention. However, Colas said Griner had not actually been able to speak to her wife or family members.

"While sporadic, written communication from her wife, family, friends and global sport community has been a source of comfort for BG during her wrongful detainment, going without real-time, regular contact with loved ones is inhumane," Colas said.

Colas added: "It remains clear that Brittney Griner is being used as a political pawn and it is imperative that President Biden do whatever is necessary to return Brittney home quickly and safely."