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
Correspondents’ dinner chaos hits high-profile guests already marked by political violence
Breaking: WH Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Identified, Appears to Be Kamala Harris Donor on Public Listing
WH Correspondents’ Dinner Cancelled After Shooting Despite Trump Wanting the Show to Go on
Secret Service in line of fire at WHCA shooting still unpaid due to Dem-led shutdown
Trump rushed from same hotel where Reagan assassination attempt unfolded in 1981
Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out
Trump shares details on ‘very sick person’ who fired shots at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week
Illegal alien accused of biting 3-year-old girl’s face at Texas park; ICE lodges detainer after arrest: DHS
Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift
Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight
Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill
Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo
Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances
Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report
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
Correspondents’ dinner chaos hits high-profile guests already marked by political violence
Breaking: WH Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Identified, Appears to Be Kamala Harris Donor on Public Listing
WH Correspondents’ Dinner Cancelled After Shooting Despite Trump Wanting the Show to Go on
Secret Service in line of fire at WHCA shooting still unpaid due to Dem-led shutdown
Trump rushed from same hotel where Reagan assassination attempt unfolded in 1981
Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out
Trump shares details on ‘very sick person’ who fired shots at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week
Illegal alien accused of biting 3-year-old girl’s face at Texas park; ICE lodges detainer after arrest: DHS
Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift
Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight
Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill
Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo
Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances
Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report
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
Correspondents’ dinner chaos hits high-profile guests already marked by political violence
Breaking: WH Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Identified, Appears to Be Kamala Harris Donor on Public Listing
WH Correspondents’ Dinner Cancelled After Shooting Despite Trump Wanting the Show to Go on
Secret Service in line of fire at WHCA shooting still unpaid due to Dem-led shutdown
Trump rushed from same hotel where Reagan assassination attempt unfolded in 1981
Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out
Trump shares details on ‘very sick person’ who fired shots at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week
Illegal alien accused of biting 3-year-old girl’s face at Texas park; ICE lodges detainer after arrest: DHS
Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift
Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight
Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill
Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo
Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances
Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report
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
Correspondents’ dinner chaos hits high-profile guests already marked by political violence
Breaking: WH Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Identified, Appears to Be Kamala Harris Donor on Public Listing
WH Correspondents’ Dinner Cancelled After Shooting Despite Trump Wanting the Show to Go on
Secret Service in line of fire at WHCA shooting still unpaid due to Dem-led shutdown
Trump rushed from same hotel where Reagan assassination attempt unfolded in 1981
Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out
Trump shares details on ‘very sick person’ who fired shots at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week
Illegal alien accused of biting 3-year-old girl’s face at Texas park; ICE lodges detainer after arrest: DHS
Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift
Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight
Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill
Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo
Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances
Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report
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.
Correspondents’ dinner chaos hits high-profile guests already marked by political violence
Breaking: WH Correspondents’ Dinner Shooter Identified, Appears to Be Kamala Harris Donor on Public Listing
WH Correspondents’ Dinner Cancelled After Shooting Despite Trump Wanting the Show to Go on
Secret Service in line of fire at WHCA shooting still unpaid due to Dem-led shutdown
Trump rushed from same hotel where Reagan assassination attempt unfolded in 1981
Breaking: Shots Reportedly Fired at WH Correspondents Dinner, Trump and Melania Rushed Out
Trump shares details on ‘very sick person’ who fired shots at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
King Charles to meet Mamdani in New York during US state visit next week
Illegal alien accused of biting 3-year-old girl’s face at Texas park; ICE lodges detainer after arrest: DHS
Trump vows to ‘get to the bottom’ of Fed’s multibillion-dollar building renovation after probe shift
Winery belonging to Ilhan Omar’s husband shut down amid financial spotlight
Broad Wording in Trump Admin’s Psychedelic Push Could Endanger Most Vulnerable Mentally Ill
Pope Backfire: Trump’s Support Among Catholics Went Up After Trump Fired Back at Pope Leo
Ilhan Omar Husband’s Winery Suspiciously Shutters After Investigation Is Launched Into Her Finances
Chicago hospital shooting leaves 2 officers injured, 1 critically; suspect in custody: report
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.
