LeBron James Writes for China’s State Newspaper After NBA Fallout

LeBron James has become the first NBA player ever to publish an essay in China’s state-run People’s Daily, marking a historic moment for U.S.-China cultural relations and signaling the possible restoration of the NBA’s ties with one of its most important markets.

The move comes after a near-collapse of the NBA-China relationship in 2019 following a tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters, which led to 28 months of halted broadcasts, lost sponsorships, and massive financial setbacks.

In his essay, James expressed gratitude for the enthusiasm, kindness, and support of Chinese fans, and highlighted his commitment to contributing to the development of basketball in China.

His essay coincides with the league’s return to Chinese soil for pre-season games in Macau and may reflect broader efforts by both sides to use U.S. cultural icons to strengthen people-to-people connections amid ongoing political and trade tensions.