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.
