The paper added that “the popularity of Letter Bro in China was evident as the fans followed his bus by taking pictures, with them wearing the Bucks shirt with Antetokounmpo’s name and number on it”: The Global Times, which has effusively celebrated NBA stars who ignore human rights concerns to make money in China, noted on Monday that Antetokounmpo is extremely popular in China and has been repeatedly mobbed by fans in multiple cities.ĭespite not being the first NBA star to visit China this year, the presence of Antetokounmpo – known in China as “Letter Bro” due to the difficulty of pronouncing his surname – backed by his honors such as back-to-back NBA regular season MVP awards in 20 as well as an NBA championship title in 2021, ignited a wave of fervent excitement among fans. The NBA terminated its agreement with the training camp in 2020, as the Communist Party locked down the nation in response to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. The NBA has also been accused of having a direct hand in some of China’s most egregious human rights violations – by maintaining, for example, a reportedly abusive training camp in the capital of East Turkistan mid-Uyghur genocide – and attracted condemnation from the U.S. That relationship has brought the NBA significant negative press, as it has required the censorship of players and team officials. A report last year estimated that NBA owners at the time had invested more than $10 billion in China, including merchandise, broadcasting rights, sponsorships, and other team-related deals. The NBA has spent years cultivating a highly lucrative presence in China under the purview of the Communist Party, which in addition to being one of the world’s most violent state repressors is also the world’s worst polluter and regularly launches illegal invasions of its neighbors. We out here learning new moves 🐲🕺🏾 /oWSNECjbKj None of his social media posts at press time have addressed the widespread use of slavery in Chinese factories, which produce much of the world’s athletic equipment: The Global Times noted that the Antetokounmpo family’s arrival sends a signal to other NBA players that “significant commercial opportunities” exist for them in China, essentially making a statement that cooperation with the Chinese Communist Party is not only safe, but lucrative after years of human rights activists and members of Congress have condemned the NBA for insisting on a friendly relationship with America’s top geopolitical adversary.Īt press time, Antetokounmpo has not made any public statements from China condemning China’s ongoing genocide of ethnic Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in occupied East Turkistan, ethnic cleansing campaigns in occupied Tibet and Inner Mongolia, or the brutal repression of Christians, Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, or other people of faith. Great to be back in China with the fam 💪🏾🙌🏾 /XSPzSU7i2d

He arrived in China on Wednesday with brothers and fellow basketball players Thanasis and Alex Emeka in tow and has spent the past week enjoying the sights in Beijing and Guangzhou, posting frequently to social media about his love for China:

China’s state-run propaganda newspaper Global Times celebrated on Monday the arrival of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Beijing, the first NBA star of his caliber in the league to visit the country since the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic began.Īntetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, led his team to the 2021 NBA championship and has since risen to become one of the most popular players in the league.

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