When Stephen Curry was asked about how the NBA moves forward in its relationship with China, he gave an answer backing Commissioner Adam Silver’s second position and playing it straight down the middle.
LeBron James was a little more aggressive.
LeBron said Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey didn’t have the necessary information to comment, should not have done that with players about to play in China, and talked about financial and other ratifications. Via Marc Spears of ESPN and Ben Golliver of the Washington Post.
LeBron James says he and his Lakers teammates didn’t have enough information to comment on situation in China.
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) October 15, 2019
Lakers’ LeBron James on NBA’s China controversy: “I don’t want to get into a ... feud with Daryl Morey but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand and he spoke.” pic.twitter.com/KKrMNU0dKR
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 15, 2019
LeBron’s comments quickly blew up on Twitter, and soon after he clarified what he meant, saying he was referring to the backlash from the Tweet.
Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk About that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
Listen to what LeBron said and see if you think his narrow clarifications match up with what he intended to imply.
This issue will not die.
Both the NBA and China would like it to, and both are working on relaxing tensions, including NBA preseason games being shown in China again. Both sides want to move on. It’s not good for the NBA’s bottom line, and in China the NBA is incredibly popular with younger generations.
But the questions about relations between the NBA and China are not going away, and issues are going to flare up again.