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
New York City is about to test Mamdani’s progressive economic vision
Newly Released Journal Pages Show Covenant School Shooter Chose Target Because She Hated Whites and Christians
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
Biblical Film ‘David’ Punches Above Its Weight, Outperforms Hollywood Heavyweights at Box Office
Walz received $10K from donors tied to Somali-run day care centers
The Chinese ambitions behind threats of a ‘multipolar world’
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
Trump targets Minnesota fraud allegations, says ‘we’re going to get to the bottom of it’
DOJ outlines 10 ‘wins’ under Trump, says agency restored after Biden era
US military confirms 5 killed in Dec 31 kinetic strike on reported narco-terror vessels
Disney World cast member injured after massive boulder prop veers off track at Indiana Jones stunt show
Trump Orders National Guard Withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Warns of Return if Crime Surges
Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’
Jim Beam shuts down iconic Kentucky distillery for at least a year amid market downturn
LIES: Here Are the Top Ten Hoaxes Pushed by Mainstream Media Outlets in 2025
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
New York City is about to test Mamdani’s progressive economic vision
Newly Released Journal Pages Show Covenant School Shooter Chose Target Because She Hated Whites and Christians
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
Biblical Film ‘David’ Punches Above Its Weight, Outperforms Hollywood Heavyweights at Box Office
Walz received $10K from donors tied to Somali-run day care centers
The Chinese ambitions behind threats of a ‘multipolar world’
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
Trump targets Minnesota fraud allegations, says ‘we’re going to get to the bottom of it’
DOJ outlines 10 ‘wins’ under Trump, says agency restored after Biden era
US military confirms 5 killed in Dec 31 kinetic strike on reported narco-terror vessels
Disney World cast member injured after massive boulder prop veers off track at Indiana Jones stunt show
Trump Orders National Guard Withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Warns of Return if Crime Surges
Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’
Jim Beam shuts down iconic Kentucky distillery for at least a year amid market downturn
LIES: Here Are the Top Ten Hoaxes Pushed by Mainstream Media Outlets in 2025
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
New York City is about to test Mamdani’s progressive economic vision
Newly Released Journal Pages Show Covenant School Shooter Chose Target Because She Hated Whites and Christians
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
Biblical Film ‘David’ Punches Above Its Weight, Outperforms Hollywood Heavyweights at Box Office
Walz received $10K from donors tied to Somali-run day care centers
The Chinese ambitions behind threats of a ‘multipolar world’
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
Trump targets Minnesota fraud allegations, says ‘we’re going to get to the bottom of it’
DOJ outlines 10 ‘wins’ under Trump, says agency restored after Biden era
US military confirms 5 killed in Dec 31 kinetic strike on reported narco-terror vessels
Disney World cast member injured after massive boulder prop veers off track at Indiana Jones stunt show
Trump Orders National Guard Withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Warns of Return if Crime Surges
Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’
Jim Beam shuts down iconic Kentucky distillery for at least a year amid market downturn
LIES: Here Are the Top Ten Hoaxes Pushed by Mainstream Media Outlets in 2025
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
New York City is about to test Mamdani’s progressive economic vision
Newly Released Journal Pages Show Covenant School Shooter Chose Target Because She Hated Whites and Christians
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
Biblical Film ‘David’ Punches Above Its Weight, Outperforms Hollywood Heavyweights at Box Office
Walz received $10K from donors tied to Somali-run day care centers
The Chinese ambitions behind threats of a ‘multipolar world’
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
Trump targets Minnesota fraud allegations, says ‘we’re going to get to the bottom of it’
DOJ outlines 10 ‘wins’ under Trump, says agency restored after Biden era
US military confirms 5 killed in Dec 31 kinetic strike on reported narco-terror vessels
Disney World cast member injured after massive boulder prop veers off track at Indiana Jones stunt show
Trump Orders National Guard Withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Warns of Return if Crime Surges
Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’
Jim Beam shuts down iconic Kentucky distillery for at least a year amid market downturn
LIES: Here Are the Top Ten Hoaxes Pushed by Mainstream Media Outlets in 2025
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.
New York City is about to test Mamdani’s progressive economic vision
Newly Released Journal Pages Show Covenant School Shooter Chose Target Because She Hated Whites and Christians
Socialist Mayor Mamdani inaugurated alongside Bernie Sanders and AOC on New Year’s Day
Biblical Film ‘David’ Punches Above Its Weight, Outperforms Hollywood Heavyweights at Box Office
Walz received $10K from donors tied to Somali-run day care centers
The Chinese ambitions behind threats of a ‘multipolar world’
Mamdani sworn in by AG James in private midnight ceremony
Trump targets Minnesota fraud allegations, says ‘we’re going to get to the bottom of it’
DOJ outlines 10 ‘wins’ under Trump, says agency restored after Biden era
US military confirms 5 killed in Dec 31 kinetic strike on reported narco-terror vessels
Disney World cast member injured after massive boulder prop veers off track at Indiana Jones stunt show
Trump Orders National Guard Withdrawal from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Warns of Return if Crime Surges
Here’s where Trump launched airstrikes around the world in 2025: ‘Protect the homeland’
Jim Beam shuts down iconic Kentucky distillery for at least a year amid market downturn
LIES: Here Are the Top Ten Hoaxes Pushed by Mainstream Media Outlets in 2025
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.
