LeBron James Missed Badly with His Stance on China
Given another shot, he missed again — horribly.
LeBron James, along with at least a couple other prominent NBA names, have outed themselves as complete hypocrites.
I am not qualified to offer any insightful comments regarding the situation in Hong Kong. I am almost equally uneducated on the geopolitical matters involving China. I understand the basics though, as do most Americans who have spent any amount of time exposed to world news.
I’ve written before about cancel culture and the importance of knowing the full story before jumping to conclusions. In this case, we know enough.
A review of the evidence starts with LeBron’s twitter feed. After responding to reporters on camera regarding Daryl Morey’s tweet, he later clarified his remarks via twitter,
“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.”
Why aren’t you discussing the substance, though? Others can talk about that… Even though you enthusiastically and unapologetically comment on current events in our own country? Could this be due to the (financial) “consequences and ramifications” that you didn’t specify?
LeBron’s next tweet was equally puzzling. He tweeted,
“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.”
To play devil’s advocate, assume that Daryl Morey knew exactly what would happen when he pressed send on his own tweet: “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.” As someone who has stood up for social issues in this country, LeBron should know that timing has a tremendous impact on the effectiveness of a message. Maybe Morey knew the media storm that would ensue, both overseas and in the U.S., and that is precisely why he tweeted just days before NBA preseason games were to be played in China. Maybe he knew that was the best way to bring attention to this issue.
To be clear, I do not think that is the case — Morey later deleted the tweet and backtracked a bit, likely under pressure from his boss and NBA brass. The point is that LeBron looks incredibly selfish and hypocritical when you take into account his proclivity to tweet about political matters at home. Why is it okay for LeBron to tweet, perhaps impulsively at times, but Morey shouldn’t have exercised his freedom of speech?
To play devil’s advocate again, this time in favor of LeBron, assume the consequences he spoke of were putting him, other NBA players and personnel in real danger. We’ll also have to assume that he wasn’t already quoted as saying, “And so many people could have been harmed not only financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually.” So, leave out the financial aspect. Now, if LeBron believed that he, or anyone, was in real danger while in China because of a tweet sent by the GM of an NBA team — what does that say about China? What does LeBron think China is capable of, exactly? If he is implying that China would even consider imprisoning, or worse, any NBA personnel because of a tweet — he must know China is capable of terrible things.
Spoiler alert: China is capable of terrible things and has violated human rights for decades. Imagine if LeBron had considered the fact that people in Hong Kong are literally being harmed — financially, physically, emotionally, spiritually.
This brings us full circle to the fact that LeBron had an opportunity while firmly on U.S. soil to state his unfiltered opinions. He chose not to support a fight for freedom and human rights. He chose to consider only the financial harm that criticism of China could create.
The potential financial harm could be enormous. The NBA is hugely popular in China. There are television and media deals with the NBA to consider. LeBron is producing and starring in Space Jam 2 — China allows only a limited number of foreign films to be released every year. Let’s not forget Nike and merchandise sales. Coincidentally, it’s been reported by ESPN that LeBron had multiple high-stakes appearances for Nike and Beats by Dre scheduled during this trip, all of which were canceled.
After the initial backlash and a night to sleep on it, LeBron had yet another opportunity to clarify his position. Not only did he double down, but he made it even more clear that he is thinking only about himself. LeBron was asked if he had a sense of how his comments would be felt in Hong Kong among protesters. His response: “No, I had a sense of what I said felt for me. And like I said yesterday, when I speak upon things, I speak from a very logical standpoint on things that hit home for me.”
To summarize, LeBron expects that others should think about how what they say can affect other people but when he speaks, it only matters how it feels for him. He’s certainly correct that it’s logical he shouldn’t say anything to jeopardize his business dealings in China — but I think people hoped he might logically conclude that staying mum on the human rights violations, oppression and violence is hypocritical.
LeBron continued, “I’d be cheating my teammates by continuing to harp on something that won’t benefit us… We’re not politicians. It’s a huge political thing. But we are leaders and we can step up at times. I’m not saying at this particular time, but if you don’t feel like you should speak on things, you shouldn’t have to.”
The problem is that he did speak on this. Leaders don’t step up “at times” that are convenient for them — they step up at times when they are called upon and needed. Leaders step up when there is occasion to lead — and this occasion certainly begged for it. If he wants to be a leader and make a difference in this world, this was bigger than any game seven shot and he missed badly.
Not for nothing, this doesn’t mean that LeBron is wrong about his other public stances on political issues. His poor judgment in this situation does not mean that he’s always had poor judgement. In fact, LeBron has committed to many great causes throughout his career and for that he deserves to be applauded. However, this story will leave a lasting impression about his true character in the face of adversity.
The NBA was presented with an opportunity. No one would have, nor should have, expected that the NBA or any individuals within it speak out on this issue unprovoked — but wilting in the spotlight was a bad look. LeBron is right, they aren’t politicians and this isn’t their arena, but don’t be a hypocrite and selectively choose when it’s okay to noble.
Let’s also not confuse this with Michael Jordan’s “Republicans buy sneakers, too” moment. It’s not the same.
Jordan didn’t openly espouse his political views and go at it with a sitting President via twitter. For whatever opinions there are of the current administration in the U.S., it can’t possibly be held in lower regard than the ruling regime in China — yet this is exactly the assumption that we are left to make. LeBron had an opportunity to speak on a social justice/human rights issue, as he has many times over the years in the U.S., but chose to speak only for his and his business partners’ self-interests instead.
The hypocrisy is the problem. The convenience of choosing what battles to fight while pretending to care about all. The Decision to choose profits over democracy and freedom. Staying out of the fray could be understandable, but calling out Morey and his tweet as being the problem in this situation is ludicrous.
You can fight your battles in the U.S. and speak about whatever political situations you choose — that’s our right in this country. To LeBron’s credit, he hasn’t been afraid to make unpopular comments in the past regarding current events and politics. However, with actual money on the table in this instance, he folded. It’s easy to call out someone or something when there’s little to no negative impact on you or your wallet — and I guess it’s easy to sit out when you know that there will be a grave impact on your bank account.
LeBron and the NBA were put in a difficult situation, for sure, and there likely wasn’t a win-win outcome for them, but that’s when we find out what really matters. I guess money matters, above all else.
