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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DOJ sends target letters to Marc Elias and other Democrats over decoy Dan Sullivan candidacy
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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
Breaking: Democrats Flip Senate Seat in State Trump Won by Double Digits
Mamdani-Backed Democratic Socialist Wins House Seat
Democrat Gina Hinojosa stuns Abbott, makes history as first Latina Texas governor
Trump’s gamble on Ken Paxton backfires as Democrat pulls off historic Texas Senate upset
‘Planted Fake Corpses’: Former El-Sayed Campaign Worker Charged in Alleged Conspiracy to Victimize Supporters of Israel
Teen previously convicted in shooting accused of killing pregnant mom of 4 inside Spirit Halloween
Power Outage Hits Key Michigan County Shortly Before Polls Close
Democrats score major Senate victory as Pappas defeats Trump-backed Republican in key battleground
Democrats hold firm in Georgia as Republicans fail to flip prized Senate seat
Man, 86, and his dog rescued hundreds of miles off California coast after going silent for 2 months
Michigan voters split between party loyalty and Senate candidates in closely watched race
DOJ sends target letters to Marc Elias and other Democrats over decoy Dan Sullivan candidacy
Election Interference: Postal Worker Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Hundreds of Republican Mailers
Trump Celebrates GOP Flip of Guam Governor and Legislature as ‘An Indication for Things to Come’
Kansas postal worker indicted for stealing mail, including hundreds of Republican election flyers
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
Breaking: Democrats Flip Senate Seat in State Trump Won by Double Digits
Mamdani-Backed Democratic Socialist Wins House Seat
Democrat Gina Hinojosa stuns Abbott, makes history as first Latina Texas governor
Trump’s gamble on Ken Paxton backfires as Democrat pulls off historic Texas Senate upset
‘Planted Fake Corpses’: Former El-Sayed Campaign Worker Charged in Alleged Conspiracy to Victimize Supporters of Israel
Teen previously convicted in shooting accused of killing pregnant mom of 4 inside Spirit Halloween
Power Outage Hits Key Michigan County Shortly Before Polls Close
Democrats score major Senate victory as Pappas defeats Trump-backed Republican in key battleground
Democrats hold firm in Georgia as Republicans fail to flip prized Senate seat
Man, 86, and his dog rescued hundreds of miles off California coast after going silent for 2 months
Michigan voters split between party loyalty and Senate candidates in closely watched race
DOJ sends target letters to Marc Elias and other Democrats over decoy Dan Sullivan candidacy
Election Interference: Postal Worker Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Hundreds of Republican Mailers
Trump Celebrates GOP Flip of Guam Governor and Legislature as ‘An Indication for Things to Come’
Kansas postal worker indicted for stealing mail, including hundreds of Republican election flyers
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
Breaking: Democrats Flip Senate Seat in State Trump Won by Double Digits
Mamdani-Backed Democratic Socialist Wins House Seat
Democrat Gina Hinojosa stuns Abbott, makes history as first Latina Texas governor
Trump’s gamble on Ken Paxton backfires as Democrat pulls off historic Texas Senate upset
‘Planted Fake Corpses’: Former El-Sayed Campaign Worker Charged in Alleged Conspiracy to Victimize Supporters of Israel
Teen previously convicted in shooting accused of killing pregnant mom of 4 inside Spirit Halloween
Power Outage Hits Key Michigan County Shortly Before Polls Close
Democrats score major Senate victory as Pappas defeats Trump-backed Republican in key battleground
Democrats hold firm in Georgia as Republicans fail to flip prized Senate seat
Man, 86, and his dog rescued hundreds of miles off California coast after going silent for 2 months
Michigan voters split between party loyalty and Senate candidates in closely watched race
DOJ sends target letters to Marc Elias and other Democrats over decoy Dan Sullivan candidacy
Election Interference: Postal Worker Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Hundreds of Republican Mailers
Trump Celebrates GOP Flip of Guam Governor and Legislature as ‘An Indication for Things to Come’
Kansas postal worker indicted for stealing mail, including hundreds of Republican election flyers
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.
Breaking: Democrats Flip Senate Seat in State Trump Won by Double Digits
Mamdani-Backed Democratic Socialist Wins House Seat
Democrat Gina Hinojosa stuns Abbott, makes history as first Latina Texas governor
Trump’s gamble on Ken Paxton backfires as Democrat pulls off historic Texas Senate upset
‘Planted Fake Corpses’: Former El-Sayed Campaign Worker Charged in Alleged Conspiracy to Victimize Supporters of Israel
Teen previously convicted in shooting accused of killing pregnant mom of 4 inside Spirit Halloween
Power Outage Hits Key Michigan County Shortly Before Polls Close
Democrats score major Senate victory as Pappas defeats Trump-backed Republican in key battleground
Democrats hold firm in Georgia as Republicans fail to flip prized Senate seat
Man, 86, and his dog rescued hundreds of miles off California coast after going silent for 2 months
Michigan voters split between party loyalty and Senate candidates in closely watched race
DOJ sends target letters to Marc Elias and other Democrats over decoy Dan Sullivan candidacy
Election Interference: Postal Worker Indicted for Allegedly Stealing Hundreds of Republican Mailers
Trump Celebrates GOP Flip of Guam Governor and Legislature as ‘An Indication for Things to Come’
Kansas postal worker indicted for stealing mail, including hundreds of Republican election flyers
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.
