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LeBron James’ People’s Daily Piece Prompts Authorship Clarification as NBA Plans Macau Return

His representatives say the People’s Daily article was compiled from interview remarks rather than a self-written column.

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Apr 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) brings the ball up court against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half in game five of first round for the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images/ File Photo
A pro-Hong Kong activist holds a poster of LeBron James with the words 'King of Chinese Money' before the Los Angeles Lakers season opening game against the LA Clippers outside Staples Center on October 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.
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Overview

  • China’s People’s Daily ran an article with LeBron James’ byline praising Chinese fans and calling basketball a bridge between cultures, a rare platform for a foreign sports star.
  • James’ camp and subsequent reporting said he did not submit an op-ed, with the published text drawn from media sessions during his tour of Shanghai and Chengdu.
  • The Associated Press withdrew or clarified an initial op-ed characterization, and later coverage reported the piece reflected edited interview quotes.
  • The publication coincides with the NBA’s scheduled preseason games in Macau on Oct. 10 and 12, the league’s first games on Chinese soil since 2019.
  • The episode unfolds against the backdrop of the 2019 Daryl Morey fallout, with Chinese broadcasts gradually resuming by 2022 and ongoing scrutiny of the NBA’s commercial ties in China.