The Los Angeles Lakers and the Brooklyn Nets were put in a tough position upon traveling to China for a couple of preseason games, soon finding out their sponsors had pulled out from the event, along with the media responsibilities to follow. LeBron James, seeing the nature of the feud between China and the NBA, believed commissioner Adam Silver should be the first to make a statement players could get behind.
Via Shams Charania of The Athletic:
“Lakers star LeBron James spoke up in front of everyone in the room and stated he believed that Silver and the NBA needed to explain and articulate the situation first, before the players would have to, multiple sources with direct knowledge of the meeting told The Athletic. James expressed concern that without the league being able to speak to media to address all of the questions and dynamics about China and the NBA, it was unfair for solely players to bear that responsibility.
James stated that he felt that both teams and all of the players were in this together, and that whatever they decided upon they should stick together, according to sources.”
James felt it was unfair for players to wrongly speak about international affairs, especially ones most are not fully aware of or well-versed on.
“Why are we the ones to go through the risks of speaking out in China when the league should be the first to address the matter, with our voices to follow?,” said a source with knowledge of the meeting.
The league initially had a reactionary response to it all, with Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta claiming his team is not a political organization and that his general manager, Daryl Morey, does not speak for the organization. Nevertheless, several Chinese sponsors dropped the Rockets, as well as Chinese broadcast company CCTV, who no longer airs games from the most popular NBA team in China.
Silver and Rockets star James Harden were apologetic in response, but the commissioner ultimately took a firmer stance at the wake of criticism from U.S. senators and others who viewed the league as kowtowing to the Chinese government.
James has been heavily involved with the NBPA and often speaks out when it comes to these matters, yet he chose to have a unified voice in Silver to represent and protect players during a turbulent and unpredictable situation.
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