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
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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’s ‘home run’ SOTU speech sparks praise from conservatives online while leaving Democrats seething
Fox Nation releasing four-part documentary on David: King of Israel
Jasmine Crockett trashes Trump, boycotts his speech: ‘The current state of our union is grim’
House Democrats ignore Hakeem Jeffries’ plea to sit silent at State of the Union
Car barrels into crowd outside California bar, gunfire erupts in chaotic scene caught on video
DHS touts ‘most secure border’ in US history amid departure of nearly 3M illegal immigrants
Trump awards back-to-back Medals of Honor during State of the Union address
Inside the Chamber: Trump gets under Democrats’ skin at State of the Union
Spanberger slams Trump on ‘affordability’ in SOTU response — as Virginia Democrats push new taxes
Trump awards Purple Hearts to National Guard members ambushed in Washington, DC: ‘We love you all’
‘We did not hear the truth from the president’: Spanberger squares up to Trump in State of the Union rebuttal
White House unloads on Democrats who ‘failed’ Trump’s State of the Union ‘test’
Trump admin sues University of California for allegedly fostering hostile workplace for Jewish employees
WATCH: ‘These People Are Crazy!’ – Trump Unloads on Democrats During SOTU With a Never Before Seen Passion
BREAKING VIDEO: Chaos Breaks Out at SOTU After Trump Asks Everyone in Favor of Putting US Citizens Before Illegals to Rise
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’s ‘home run’ SOTU speech sparks praise from conservatives online while leaving Democrats seething
Fox Nation releasing four-part documentary on David: King of Israel
Jasmine Crockett trashes Trump, boycotts his speech: ‘The current state of our union is grim’
House Democrats ignore Hakeem Jeffries’ plea to sit silent at State of the Union
Car barrels into crowd outside California bar, gunfire erupts in chaotic scene caught on video
DHS touts ‘most secure border’ in US history amid departure of nearly 3M illegal immigrants
Trump awards back-to-back Medals of Honor during State of the Union address
Inside the Chamber: Trump gets under Democrats’ skin at State of the Union
Spanberger slams Trump on ‘affordability’ in SOTU response — as Virginia Democrats push new taxes
Trump awards Purple Hearts to National Guard members ambushed in Washington, DC: ‘We love you all’
‘We did not hear the truth from the president’: Spanberger squares up to Trump in State of the Union rebuttal
White House unloads on Democrats who ‘failed’ Trump’s State of the Union ‘test’
Trump admin sues University of California for allegedly fostering hostile workplace for Jewish employees
WATCH: ‘These People Are Crazy!’ – Trump Unloads on Democrats During SOTU With a Never Before Seen Passion
BREAKING VIDEO: Chaos Breaks Out at SOTU After Trump Asks Everyone in Favor of Putting US Citizens Before Illegals to Rise
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’s ‘home run’ SOTU speech sparks praise from conservatives online while leaving Democrats seething
Fox Nation releasing four-part documentary on David: King of Israel
Jasmine Crockett trashes Trump, boycotts his speech: ‘The current state of our union is grim’
House Democrats ignore Hakeem Jeffries’ plea to sit silent at State of the Union
Car barrels into crowd outside California bar, gunfire erupts in chaotic scene caught on video
DHS touts ‘most secure border’ in US history amid departure of nearly 3M illegal immigrants
Trump awards back-to-back Medals of Honor during State of the Union address
Inside the Chamber: Trump gets under Democrats’ skin at State of the Union
Spanberger slams Trump on ‘affordability’ in SOTU response — as Virginia Democrats push new taxes
Trump awards Purple Hearts to National Guard members ambushed in Washington, DC: ‘We love you all’
‘We did not hear the truth from the president’: Spanberger squares up to Trump in State of the Union rebuttal
White House unloads on Democrats who ‘failed’ Trump’s State of the Union ‘test’
Trump admin sues University of California for allegedly fostering hostile workplace for Jewish employees
WATCH: ‘These People Are Crazy!’ – Trump Unloads on Democrats During SOTU With a Never Before Seen Passion
BREAKING VIDEO: Chaos Breaks Out at SOTU After Trump Asks Everyone in Favor of Putting US Citizens Before Illegals to Rise
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’s ‘home run’ SOTU speech sparks praise from conservatives online while leaving Democrats seething
Fox Nation releasing four-part documentary on David: King of Israel
Jasmine Crockett trashes Trump, boycotts his speech: ‘The current state of our union is grim’
House Democrats ignore Hakeem Jeffries’ plea to sit silent at State of the Union
Car barrels into crowd outside California bar, gunfire erupts in chaotic scene caught on video
DHS touts ‘most secure border’ in US history amid departure of nearly 3M illegal immigrants
Trump awards back-to-back Medals of Honor during State of the Union address
Inside the Chamber: Trump gets under Democrats’ skin at State of the Union
Spanberger slams Trump on ‘affordability’ in SOTU response — as Virginia Democrats push new taxes
Trump awards Purple Hearts to National Guard members ambushed in Washington, DC: ‘We love you all’
‘We did not hear the truth from the president’: Spanberger squares up to Trump in State of the Union rebuttal
White House unloads on Democrats who ‘failed’ Trump’s State of the Union ‘test’
Trump admin sues University of California for allegedly fostering hostile workplace for Jewish employees
WATCH: ‘These People Are Crazy!’ – Trump Unloads on Democrats During SOTU With a Never Before Seen Passion
BREAKING VIDEO: Chaos Breaks Out at SOTU After Trump Asks Everyone in Favor of Putting US Citizens Before Illegals to Rise
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.
