LeBron James’ comments about Houston Rockets general manager not understanding the “ramifications” of using his right to freedom of speech when NBA teams were in China have reached Hong Kong and protestors in the semi-autonomous of China have found a new target for their outrage: LeBron himself.
According to the Associated Press, a crowd of approximately 200 people in Hong Kong stomped on and burned James jerseys, threw basketballs at images of him dressed up as Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong and said things about James that were ultimately not fit to print.
Several protestors interviewed by the AP shared their displeasure with LeBron for, as they see it, picking China’s side in the ordeal.
“James was trying, you know, to take a side, on the China side, which is like ridiculous,” said Aaron Lee, a 36-year-old marketing director. “He was being honest, financially. Financial is money. Simple as that. LeBron James stands for money. Period.”
While the Los Angeles Lakers and LeBron likely hoped coming to America would be the end of the story, it looks like things are only just beginning.
