A cutscene featuring a virtual LeBron James produced for “NBA 2K20” is now being viewed in an unflattering light in the wake of his polarizing comments regarding the ongoing NBA-China controversy.
The clip for the “MyCareer” mode of the popular video game series features the Los Angeles Lakers superstar dispensing advice to younger players.
“When I first came into the league, I was just trying to prove myself. It was all about ball. It took me a while to understand the responsibility, the opportunity I was given,” James says in the clip. “You know, I speak for those without a voice. People who grew up like I did; poor, without hope.
“Those people, those kids, they exist at every corner of the globe, and they’re all deserving of a chance. I believe no one person is capable of turning the tide, but we all have an obligation because somewhere along the way somebody picked us up.”
The cutscene, incidentally, was produced by James’ Springhill Entertainment. Although no one at the time could have envisioned the backlash created by his criticism of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who spawned the entire China controversy with tweeted support of the pro-democracy protests presently occurring in Hong Kong.
James ignited the firestorm by stating Morey was “either misinformed or not really educated on the situation” before issuing the tweet.
James later attempted to walk back his remarks in a series of tweets, and on Tuesday — as protesters in Hong Kong burned his jerseys during widespread demonstrations — the superstar insisted he “won’t talk about” the China situation again.
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