LeBron James has been widely criticized for his first public comments about the NBA’s China-Hong Kong controversy, and he already seems to be backtracking.
James spoke on Monday about the matter and said he did not think Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey was “educated” on the subject when Morey tweeted his support of the Hong Kong protests against an oppressive communist government.
“I believe he was misinformed and not educated on the situation,” LeBron James said on the Morey tweet. LeBron added Morey’s tweet was dangerous. LeBron said he is uncertain about the future ramifications of the Morey tweet with the NBA and players.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) October 15, 2019
Not long after James’ comments circulated online and the Los Angeles Lakers star began to receive negative attention, The Undefeated’s Marc J. Spears tweeted a supposed clarification. According to Spears’ report, James was talking about the ramifications of Morey’s tweet when he said the Rockets GM was misinformed.
LeBron James was referring to the ramifications of Daryl Morey’s tweet on China and the events it unleashed when the Lakers star said the Rockets GM was misinformed, a source told @TheUndefeated.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpearsESPN) October 15, 2019
What difference does it make what James was talking about? Would Morey have thought twice if he realized all the fallout his tweet would have caused? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s not like he was coming down on the wrong side of history. He was supporting democracy in the face of communism. Very few in America are disagreeing with Morey.
Whatever his intent, James’ comments are a contradiction based on everything he has billed himself as the past several years — someone who champions free speech and standing up for the right to speak out against injustices. In the past, he never seemed to indicate financial considerations were an important factor to evaluate when it came to social justice matters.
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