LeBron James’ China comments dragged up in Donald Trump Goodyear boycott row

‘We don’t bend, and we don’t break for nobody,’ LA Lakers star tells reporters of hometown of Akron as US President calls for Goodyear boycott
‘Except the Chinese Communist Party,’ tweets Fox News presenter over player’s response to Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey furore

NBA (National Basketball Association)

Jonathan White

Published: 2:06pm, 23 Aug 2020

Why you can trust SCMP

NBA star LeBron James has seen his comments made about Daryl Morey last October dragged up once more after becoming involved in a row with US President Donald Trump over Goodyear.

James spoke to reporters on Thursday about the Ohio-based tyre giant, who are based in his hometown of Akron, and the president’s call to boycott them.

“We don’t bend, and we don’t break for nobody. So we’re not worried about that,” James said. “Not only has Goodyear been great for my city, for the history of my city, but the country and what they represented. It’s an unbelievable brand, unbelievable history. We stand strong and always unite, especially my city.”

The comments were picked up by Fox News presenter Will Cain who tweeted “Except the Chinese Communist Party.” This was a reference to James’ comments last October in the immediate aftermath of Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeting his support for Hong Kong’s anti-government protesters.

James and his Los Angeles Lakers teammates were in China during the fallout from Morey’s tweet, where they were to play two exhibition games against the Brooklyn Nets. Media and fan events were cancelled as the games looked in jeopardy before eventually going ahead, albeit not shown on state broadcaster CCTV.

“Yes, we do have freedom of speech,” James said after returning to the US from China. “But at times, there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you're not thinking about others when you only think about yourself. I don't want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn't educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke.

“So many people could have been harmed, not only financially but physically, emotionally, spiritually. So just be careful what we tweet and what we say and what we do. Even though, yes, we do have freedom of speech, it can be a lot of negative that comes with it.”

Fans in Hong Kong angered by James comments burned his jerseys, while the player later became the subject of memes for speaking out on US social justice issues but not on Hong Kong or China.

James and the NBA, who offered different statements in Chinese and English after the Morey tweet last October, have been widely criticised by US politicians as the issue has run on. CCTV are still refusing to screen games in the resumed season and the Rockets remain censored on the Chinese internet.

01:40

Hong Kong basketball fans angered by LeBron James’ comment on Daryl Morey’s tweet

The NBA’s China operations have become a political issue in the US as relations between the two countries have soured further since the coronavirus pandemic. The focus in recent weeks was on a training centre in Xinjiang after an ESPN investigation alleged systemic abuse of athletes by coaches.

Muslim pressure group the Council for American-Islamic Relations also wrote to the NBA last week asking the league to “stand on the right side of history by announcing that it will cease all operations in China unless and until its government ceases its persecution of millions of innocent people”.

The NBA play-offs are ongoing with the Lakers leading the Portland Trail Blazers 2-1 in their best of seven game series.

Post