President Donald Trump has put China in a difficult position with his new tariffs, forcing the East Asian country to threaten retaliation against the USA. While both sides try to find a resolution, LeBron James recently offered his thoughts on how their relations can improve.
The 40-year-old hooper published an op-ed in Monday’s edition of People’s Daily Newspaper, which is a Chinese state-run media source. He described basketball as “not only a sport, but also a bridge that connects us.” LBJ spent time in the country ahead of two NBA preseason games to be hosted there next month, the first since China essentially banned the league from hosting games there over five years ago.
This was due to Adam Silver’s unwillingness to punish then-Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey for supporting anti-government protesters in Hong Kong while the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers were in town. China went on to stop broadcasting games for a full year, and then slowly lightened up until games were regularly broadcast again in 2022.
James was pleased by his reception during his visit. “I am deeply moved by the passion and friendliness of my Chinese friends and I can only express my gratitude by giving my best in every game,” he said. “It’s super humbling for me to be able to come here, so far away from home, and get the reception and the love. I just wanted to pour it back to the community and to this country.”
The Los Angeles Lakers superstar’s op-ed was monumental, as written by the South China Morning Post. “It is rare for the mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist Party to run articles carrying the byline of foreign sports stars,” read the piece. “It is more common for international sporting heroes to connect with fans in China via Chinese social media.”
James isn’t the only player making his presence felt in China with the hopes of rehabbing relations. Stephen Curry has visited the country multiple times, as has De’Aaron Fox.