The NBA was understandably excited to start its season and get away from the China controversy that had embroiled the league over the past couple weeks.
However, even more controversy ensued on Tuesday night and on into Wednesday as video surfaced showing LeBron James walking off the court and screaming while the national anthem played.
LeBron disrespecting the Anthem?!? Oh no pic.twitter.com/3Gev5Dh24x
— Mickstape (@MickstapeShow) October 23, 2019
Trump praised during phone call with hostage families after Hamas agrees to peace plan: video
New Jersey gubernatorial hopefuls dig up past scandals, spar over shutdown in icy final debate
Texas arrests 8 in widening probe of midwife accused of illegal abortions
Katie Porter caught on video screaming ‘Get out of my f—–g shot!’ at staffer during 2021 call
Final faceoff: Democrat, Republican nominees in key race for governor blast each other on debate stage
Illegal immigrant gets 30 years for raping 11-year-old Virginia girl multiple times
More Democrats dodge Virginia candidate’s ‘2 bullets’ scandal
Apparent road rage incident sparks deadly Texas shooting spree across 2 cities, leaving 4 dead
Turning Point Confirms Authenticity of Leaked Charlie Kirk Text Messages About Conflicts with Donors
Trump to undergo ‘routine’ yearly medical exam at Walter Reed while visiting troops in Maryland
Israel-Hamas peace deal reached soon after Trump says it’s ‘very close’ in White House note pass with Rubio
Fact Check: Did Trump Refer to Puerto Rico as a ‘Mexican City’?
A dizzying ride on the Hill: Lawmakers debate in circles as shutdown enters week two
Blue City Paradise: 4 Boston Cops Hospitalized After Pro-Hamas Rioters Attacked, Broke Bones, Even Stole Their Equipment
House Democrats intensify Homan bribery investigation after Bondi sidesteps questions
The internet did not take kindly to James’ ill-timed and disrespectful outburst:
If this was the Chinese anthem @KingJames would have showed the proper respect https://t.co/a5yUyXo1dm
— Dave Portnoy (@stoolpresidente) October 23, 2019
Trump praised during phone call with hostage families after Hamas agrees to peace plan: video
New Jersey gubernatorial hopefuls dig up past scandals, spar over shutdown in icy final debate
Texas arrests 8 in widening probe of midwife accused of illegal abortions
Katie Porter caught on video screaming ‘Get out of my f—–g shot!’ at staffer during 2021 call
Final faceoff: Democrat, Republican nominees in key race for governor blast each other on debate stage
Illegal immigrant gets 30 years for raping 11-year-old Virginia girl multiple times
More Democrats dodge Virginia candidate’s ‘2 bullets’ scandal
Apparent road rage incident sparks deadly Texas shooting spree across 2 cities, leaving 4 dead
Turning Point Confirms Authenticity of Leaked Charlie Kirk Text Messages About Conflicts with Donors
Trump to undergo ‘routine’ yearly medical exam at Walter Reed while visiting troops in Maryland
Israel-Hamas peace deal reached soon after Trump says it’s ‘very close’ in White House note pass with Rubio
Fact Check: Did Trump Refer to Puerto Rico as a ‘Mexican City’?
A dizzying ride on the Hill: Lawmakers debate in circles as shutdown enters week two
Blue City Paradise: 4 Boston Cops Hospitalized After Pro-Hamas Rioters Attacked, Broke Bones, Even Stole Their Equipment
House Democrats intensify Homan bribery investigation after Bondi sidesteps questions
LeBron was yelling for them to play China’s anthem @MickstapeShow pic.twitter.com/eeV4ZdvnS5
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) October 23, 2019
LeBron may truly have zero respect for America. National anthem still going and he walks off and yells “LET’S GO” to the crowd. His behavior the past month is indefensible. pic.twitter.com/Ql0T8a2QC2
— T.J. Moe (@TJMoe28) October 23, 2019
Trump praised during phone call with hostage families after Hamas agrees to peace plan: video
New Jersey gubernatorial hopefuls dig up past scandals, spar over shutdown in icy final debate
Texas arrests 8 in widening probe of midwife accused of illegal abortions
Katie Porter caught on video screaming ‘Get out of my f—–g shot!’ at staffer during 2021 call
Final faceoff: Democrat, Republican nominees in key race for governor blast each other on debate stage
Illegal immigrant gets 30 years for raping 11-year-old Virginia girl multiple times
More Democrats dodge Virginia candidate’s ‘2 bullets’ scandal
Apparent road rage incident sparks deadly Texas shooting spree across 2 cities, leaving 4 dead
Turning Point Confirms Authenticity of Leaked Charlie Kirk Text Messages About Conflicts with Donors
Trump to undergo ‘routine’ yearly medical exam at Walter Reed while visiting troops in Maryland
Israel-Hamas peace deal reached soon after Trump says it’s ‘very close’ in White House note pass with Rubio
Fact Check: Did Trump Refer to Puerto Rico as a ‘Mexican City’?
A dizzying ride on the Hill: Lawmakers debate in circles as shutdown enters week two
Blue City Paradise: 4 Boston Cops Hospitalized After Pro-Hamas Rioters Attacked, Broke Bones, Even Stole Their Equipment
House Democrats intensify Homan bribery investigation after Bondi sidesteps questions
What a classless disrespectful move to the country that gave you the opportunity to make billions of dollars @KingJames. You’re more than welcome to leave anytime you want and don’t come back. Put your hand over your heart and say thank you. https://t.co/72bihf44wu
— Turner Wintz (@19tmoney19) October 23, 2019
Trump praised during phone call with hostage families after Hamas agrees to peace plan: video
New Jersey gubernatorial hopefuls dig up past scandals, spar over shutdown in icy final debate
Texas arrests 8 in widening probe of midwife accused of illegal abortions
Katie Porter caught on video screaming ‘Get out of my f—–g shot!’ at staffer during 2021 call
Final faceoff: Democrat, Republican nominees in key race for governor blast each other on debate stage
Illegal immigrant gets 30 years for raping 11-year-old Virginia girl multiple times
More Democrats dodge Virginia candidate’s ‘2 bullets’ scandal
Apparent road rage incident sparks deadly Texas shooting spree across 2 cities, leaving 4 dead
Turning Point Confirms Authenticity of Leaked Charlie Kirk Text Messages About Conflicts with Donors
Trump to undergo ‘routine’ yearly medical exam at Walter Reed while visiting troops in Maryland
Israel-Hamas peace deal reached soon after Trump says it’s ‘very close’ in White House note pass with Rubio
Fact Check: Did Trump Refer to Puerto Rico as a ‘Mexican City’?
A dizzying ride on the Hill: Lawmakers debate in circles as shutdown enters week two
Blue City Paradise: 4 Boston Cops Hospitalized After Pro-Hamas Rioters Attacked, Broke Bones, Even Stole Their Equipment
House Democrats intensify Homan bribery investigation after Bondi sidesteps questions
It’s game 1 of the regular season and Lebron is already disrespecting our National Anthem and our country smh https://t.co/JovkQcwsVs
— cole (@colem008) October 23, 2019
James faced a firestorm of criticism after saying that Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey “wasn’t educated” on the China-Hong-Kong issue, before he sent a message of support to pro-democracy protesters earlier this month.
Trump praised during phone call with hostage families after Hamas agrees to peace plan: video
New Jersey gubernatorial hopefuls dig up past scandals, spar over shutdown in icy final debate
Texas arrests 8 in widening probe of midwife accused of illegal abortions
Katie Porter caught on video screaming ‘Get out of my f—–g shot!’ at staffer during 2021 call
Final faceoff: Democrat, Republican nominees in key race for governor blast each other on debate stage
Illegal immigrant gets 30 years for raping 11-year-old Virginia girl multiple times
More Democrats dodge Virginia candidate’s ‘2 bullets’ scandal
Apparent road rage incident sparks deadly Texas shooting spree across 2 cities, leaving 4 dead
Turning Point Confirms Authenticity of Leaked Charlie Kirk Text Messages About Conflicts with Donors
Trump to undergo ‘routine’ yearly medical exam at Walter Reed while visiting troops in Maryland
Israel-Hamas peace deal reached soon after Trump says it’s ‘very close’ in White House note pass with Rubio
Fact Check: Did Trump Refer to Puerto Rico as a ‘Mexican City’?
A dizzying ride on the Hill: Lawmakers debate in circles as shutdown enters week two
Blue City Paradise: 4 Boston Cops Hospitalized After Pro-Hamas Rioters Attacked, Broke Bones, Even Stole Their Equipment
House Democrats intensify Homan bribery investigation after Bondi sidesteps questions
While backpedaling, James said that he is not a politician, and said that not “every issue should be everyone’s problem.”
Since that time, James has said he will no longer talk about the NBA-China rift. The Lakers star forward also did not have any comment about his disrespect towards the flag on Tuesday night.
The NBA faced serious financial hardship after China retaliated against the league by canceling promotional events and several business arrangements. It should also be noted that James has several financial interests in China outside the NBA. Most notably, Nike’s extremely lucrative sales in China, plus the deal that James’ production company has in the development of Space Jam 2 which is expected to do very well in the communist country.
Story cited here.
