NBA star LeBron James says basketball can be US-China bridge in rare state media article
On Friday, James ended his 2025 China tour taking in Shanghai and Chengdu, and hailed the energy of China’s young players
It is rare for the mouthpiece of China’s ruling Communist Party to run articles carrying the byline of foreign sports stars. It is more common for international sporting heroes to connect with fans in China via Chinese social media, regularly posting content and comments.
“Basketball is not only a sport, but also a bridge that connects us. The passion flows in our hearts,” read the article written by James. The piece appeared in Chinese on the sports page of Monday’s People’s Daily, with credit also given to a newspaper reporter for interviewing him and compiling the article.
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On Friday, James wrapped up his 2025 China tour which included stops in Shanghai and Chengdu. It was the 15th trip of his professional career to China and he hailed the energy of the country’s young players.
In the article, James said that during the visit he had reunited with former Chinese college player Niu Ziwei, whom he first met 13 years ago. Niu is now a teacher and the mother of two children.
James wrote: “I also have three children and I know that basketball can inspire generations of people to pursue their dreams. Seeing so many young basketball lovers in China, I hope I can also contribute to the development of Chinese basketball”.
The NBA announced on Monday that basketball legends Tim Hardaway Sr, Stephon Marbury, Shawn Marion, Shaquille O’Neal, Mitch Richmond and Deron Williams would headline the first-ever NBA House event to be held in China, also hosted in Macau, from October 8 to 12.