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LeBron James was silent this week as controversy swirled around him over a piece in a Chinese state -driven newspaper with his byline that appeared on Monday.
James’ byline appeared in People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party’s central committee. The play expressed the appreciation of China and the Chinese people. It would have marked the first time that an NBA player had ever written an essay in Chinese government-controlled media and would come almost six years after Los Angeles Lakers star torn former Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey for his social media post to support Hong Kong demonstrants against the Chinese government.
When the NBA Super Star received lots of criticism and condemnation for the words that seemed to be his, a new report on Tuesday offered a new VRI, but fewer answers about the play.
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Los Angeles Lakers -tip LeBron James (23) warms up before the game against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 25, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imag images)
The Athletic, citing named sources, reported that James “did not write the article that bore his name” in People’s Daily. The report said James gathered interviews with journalists in two cities in China he visited as part of “Forever King Tour” with Nike. The sources told the outlets that James’ words in the paper were accurate “, but they were not presented to anyone as an essay or an opinion editor.”
Three Chinese translators told The Athletic that People’s Daily referred to James as the “author” of the play, but “also says James was interviewed and played-edited-by a reporter” from the government-controlled newspaper.
Since James was credited to write a piece in People’s Daily, he has been unusually quiet about what actually happened and how his name came in on a communist paper.
Pakinomist Digital asked a James Rep if the almost constant future basketball hall of Famer thought there was a mix between him and those affiliated with people’s daily and whether James knew his name would be on the paper’s byline. Pakinomist Digital also asked if the play was published without his knowledge.
Pakinomist Digital did not hear back. It is not clear why James himself would not deny that he wrote the essay, instead of relying on named sources close to him to forward the message.
Meanwhile, the critical voices from James’ byline, which appear in the outlets, have been high.
Los Angeles Lakers Spider LeBron James (23) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors during the first quarter of the Chase Center on January 25, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imag images)
Former NFL Sideline Reporter Michele Tafoya threw James in a performance on Outkicks “Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich.”
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“The first (thought) was, ‘ok is this real? Is this ai? Is this legitimate? Is he this badly informed?’ … This is like American Malpractice, “Tafoya said. “This is the guy who defends China to the hills. Why? Because all his sneakers are made there.”
Tafoya pointed out that James, as a majority of NBA players, has been silent on the situation of Uyhur Muslims in China. The US Department of Labor released a report in 2024 that Uyhur Muslims were forced to review “ideological indoctrination” as well as being forced to learn Mandarin.
China has consistently rejected allegations of human rights violations when it came to Ughurs.
“And he is unaware of human rights (questions) – the absolute atrocities going on in China and the fact that China would like to destroy most of the Western world and own the globe, otherwise LeBron loves that idea,” Tafoya added. “Maybe he is all. Maybe that’s what he wants to. For a guy who’s very vocal about slave history in the United States of America.
“He is definitely able to overlook the slave life that is still going on in China. I would never understand this and I would very much like to sit down and interview him about it because I have a lot of pointed questions, but I don’t think he will take questions about this.”
Fox Sports Broadcaster Tim Brando was also critical of James.
“It’s a sale,” Brando said at Outkicks “Hot Mic.” “I stopped worrying about the NBA long before the venture with China became a reality, but it only further improved my feelings of not worrying and not seeing and never ever broadcasting an NBA game. I don’t want any part of it.”
But James’ glowing review of his time in China will certainly help build the frayed relationship between the NBA and the communist nation since Morey talked about the protests in Hong Kong in October 2019.
“The enthusiasm and kindness of Chinese friends touch me deeply and all I can do is give everything in every game to express my gratitude,” he wrote in the paper via Reuters. “I hope I can contribute to the development of Chinese basketball.”
South China Morning Post also noted that James thanked his Chinese fans for their reception of him.
Los Angeles Lakers Spider LeBron James (23) dribbles against the Golden State Warriors Guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first quarter of Chase Center on January 25, 2025. (Darren Yamashita/Imag images)
“Every time I come here, my family and I are warmly welcomed. I am deeply moved by the hospitality and kindness of our Chinese friends. All I can do is give everything in every fight and express my gratitude to everyone,” he wrote.
