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LeBron James wrote an essay in the daily life of the Chinese public people on Monday, almost six years after a position by former director general of Houston Rockets, Daryl Morey, ignited a storm of fire in the country and has tapered the relationship between the Chinese government in the NBA.
The lyrics of the star of Los Angeles Lakers came as he wrapped the Forever King tour in which he visited Shanghai and Chengdu. The tour coincided with its 20th anniversary of the tour in Asia with Nike.
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Los Angeles Lakers striker LeBron James (23) speaks with a referee in the third quarter against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the fourth round game for the NBA 2025 qualifiers at the Target Center on April 27, 2025. (Matt Blewett / Imagn images)
“The enthusiasm and kindness of Chinese friends touched me deeply, and all I can do is give my everything in every match to express my gratitude,” he wrote in the newspaper, via Reuters. “I hope I can contribute to the development of Chinese basketball.”
The Lakers and Brooklyn Nets were in Asia for a tour before the start of the 2019-2020 season and that he came when Hong Kong residents protested a security law. Morey wrote on X, then called Twitter, “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.” The position caused a huge gap between the NBA and China while some Chinese broadcasters refused air matters.
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A poster of the Los Angeles Lakers of the NBA, LeBron James, with the national flag of China, is seen outside the mass of Mong Kok mass transport (MTR) during an anti-government demonstration, in Hong Kong, China, October 20, 2019. (Reuters / Tyrone Siu)
Morey would later delete the tweet and publish a statement, saying: “I did not intend to make my tweet to provoke an offense to fans and friends of Rockets in China. I simply expressed myself a thought, on the basis of an interpretation, of a complicated event. I had a lot of opportunities since this tweet to hear and consider other prospects.”
James, at the time, “rage” to the players on the Tweet of Morey, according to an ESPN report in 2022. He also spoke once the Lakers returned to the United States, suggesting that those who are “poorly informed or not educated on something” should not speak of geopolitical questions.
The South China Morning Post noted on Monday that James had thanked his Chinese fans for their reception of him.
“Whenever I come here, my family and I are warmly welcomed. I am deeply moved by the hospitality and conviviality of our Chinese friends. All I can do is give my match in every match and express my gratitude to everyone,” he wrote.
Los Angeles Lakers striker LeBron James appeared during the first half of a basketball match in the NBA against Utah Jazz on February 10, 2025 in Los Angeles. (AP photo / Mark J. Terill, File)
It seems that China has since cooled its tensions with the NBA in recent years, games slowly returning to Chinese broadcasters and streaming services.
