LeBron James Gives Shenzhen A Show But No Comments After Nets Matchup

The Los Angeles Lakers played their game in Shenzhen on Saturday. They lost to the Brooklyn Nets again, and a tiny detail caught everyone’s attention. LeBron James didn’t talk to media members after the game. Media sessions were cancelled as a result of the tension between the league and China.

It all started when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey supported Hong Kong.

The league said it is blocking media access to teams playing preseason games in China as it is trying to contain the crisis that erupted this week.

“We have decided not to hold media availability for our teams for the remainder of our trip in China,” a spokeswoman for the NBA said Friday.The NBA teams visiting China “have been placed into a complicated and unprecedented situation while abroad and we believe it would be unfair to ask them to address these matters in real time,” the NBA spokeswoman explained in a statement Friday.

Things don’t look really good at the moment, and the tension is still here. But experts believe that fans will get over it and enjoy the game.

“Behind the curtain of government-led boycotts is a massive citizen fan base I believe will ultimately forgive the NBA because they don’t want their sports mixed with politics,” explains Paul Swangard, who teaches sport brand strategy at the University of Oregon.

Morey put the NBA in a tough situation as Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said.“It’s a tough situation,” he said at a post-game media conference. “Adam Silver speaks for the NBA, I work for the NBA. I go with Adam. Commissioner Silver will do the right thing.”

Chinese fans at the Shanghai game didn’t ignore Morey’s position, but decided to put it aside and focus on the action.

“Of course I put my country first and I love my country, but I also think coming to watch my favorite basketball players play is not in conflict with loving my country,” said a 22-year-old student and LeBron James fan. According to him, Morey should apologize.  

When it comes to LeBron and the Lakers, they need to work on the chemistry. They lost to the Nets, and Kevin Durant wasn’t even present and Kyrie Irving was injured.