NBA Basketball Superstar LeBron James Blames China Row On 'Misinformed' Rockets GM. Says He Should Have Kept His Mouth Shut

AFP: LeBron under fire after blaming China row on 'misinformed' Rockets GM

Los Angeles (AFP) - Basketball superstar LeBron James was accused of turning a blind eye to Chinese repression on Tuesday after he criticized a Houston Rockets executive for angering China with a "misinformed" tweet supporting protesters in Hong Kong.

James told reporters that Rockets general manager Daryl Morey "wasn't educated" on Hong Kong and should have kept his mouth shut, as the outspoken Lakers forward waded into a charged debate that other high-profile NBA figures have shied away from.

"So many people could have been harmed not only financially but physically, emotionally and spiritually. So just be careful with what we tweet, and we say, and we do," James told reporters when asked for comment in Los Angeles after returning from the NBA's annual China tour.

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Update #1: Hong Kong protesters BURN LeBron James' jersey as he is slammed as a hypocrite on both sides of the Pacific and accused of pandering to China for calling Rockets GM 'misinformed' over his tweets backing demonstrators (Daily Mail)
Update #2: LeBron James undermines values he's espoused in most disgraceful moment of career (Dan Wolken, USA TODAY)

WNU Editor: LeBron James had three choices. Say nothing. Support the protesters in Hong Kong. Or condemn those who are supporting the protesters in Hong Kong. He decided to side with his Chinese hosts and condemn those who are supporting the people in Hong Kong. For a person who is always trying to cultivate an image of being socially responsible, these remarks now make him look like a hypocrite. Not surprising, he is trying to backtrack his remarks (and is failing at that) .... The Sports Report: LeBron James clarifies his Daryl Morey comments (Los Angeles).