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
Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
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Stephen A. Smith says ‘Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf’
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Missouri skydiving plane crash that killed all 12 aboard is a ‘devastating loss,’ company says
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Trump heads to G7 with Iran deal momentum, trade fights waiting
Both gubernatorial candidates look to Make Iowa Healthy Again
Immigrants filed tens of thousands of lawsuits in Trump’s first year
Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order
Trump mixes sports and patriotism with UFC Freedom 250 ‘spectacle’
UFC Freedom 250 White House event: Photos
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
Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Horror Discovery: Remains of More Than 30 Unborn Babies Found in Pathologist’s Garden
Stephen A. Smith says ‘Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf’
Iran Says Fighting Will End ‘Immediately and Permanently’ After Trump Announces Peace Deal
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Trump Announces Iran Deal Is Complete, Says Military Operations Will End Immediately
Missouri skydiving plane crash that killed all 12 aboard is a ‘devastating loss,’ company says
Trump bet tariffs would bring back American factory jobs. New report says it didn’t work
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Both gubernatorial candidates look to Make Iowa Healthy Again
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Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order
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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
Jim Acosta ruthlessly mocked for comparing removal of Trump’s name from Kennedy Center to fall of Berlin Wall
Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Horror Discovery: Remains of More Than 30 Unborn Babies Found in Pathologist’s Garden
Stephen A. Smith says ‘Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf’
Iran Says Fighting Will End ‘Immediately and Permanently’ After Trump Announces Peace Deal
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Trump Announces Iran Deal Is Complete, Says Military Operations Will End Immediately
Missouri skydiving plane crash that killed all 12 aboard is a ‘devastating loss,’ company says
Trump bet tariffs would bring back American factory jobs. New report says it didn’t work
Trump heads to G7 with Iran deal momentum, trade fights waiting
Both gubernatorial candidates look to Make Iowa Healthy Again
Immigrants filed tens of thousands of lawsuits in Trump’s first year
Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order
Trump mixes sports and patriotism with UFC Freedom 250 ‘spectacle’
UFC Freedom 250 White House event: Photos
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.
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Haitian fraudster’s eye-popping taxpayer-backed drug scam puts Congress on the hunt
Horror Discovery: Remains of More Than 30 Unborn Babies Found in Pathologist’s Garden
Stephen A. Smith says ‘Karmelo Anthony murdered Austin Metcalf’
Iran Says Fighting Will End ‘Immediately and Permanently’ After Trump Announces Peace Deal
Zelensky laments Russian attack that damaged 1,000-year-old church
Trump Announces Iran Deal Is Complete, Says Military Operations Will End Immediately
Missouri skydiving plane crash that killed all 12 aboard is a ‘devastating loss,’ company says
Trump bet tariffs would bring back American factory jobs. New report says it didn’t work
Trump heads to G7 with Iran deal momentum, trade fights waiting
Both gubernatorial candidates look to Make Iowa Healthy Again
Immigrants filed tens of thousands of lawsuits in Trump’s first year
Detroit sisters accused of stabbing restaurant worker after wrong food order
Trump mixes sports and patriotism with UFC Freedom 250 ‘spectacle’
UFC Freedom 250 White House event: Photos
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.
