What did LeBron James do on his China’s Shanghai and Chengdu trip?

The geopolitics might be boiling away in the background, but China's craze for NBA stars is insatiable as they hosted King James on his Forever tour.

In his 23rd NBA season, LeBron was on his #ForeverKingTpur in China and dropped a bunch of pictures against the Shanghai s Night skyline.

Seen the double-dribble or more accurately dribble-and-a-half or phantom dribble or echo dribble of LeBron James? It’s where he bounces the ball and lets it strike his bent hooked knee for a second quick sharp bounce. That, and many more tricks were unveiled as the NBA superstar, turned up at coaching clinics for Chinese youngsters at Chengdu.

In his 23rd NBA season, he was on his #ForeverKingTpur in China and dropped a bunch of pictures against the Shanghai s Night skyline.

King James, adored in China and visiting currently, spun the ball on his index tip, dribbled it through his feet, took half court shots through the rim, and even commended young hoopster Zhuo SY for her no-look feint in videos splashed by CGTN.

🔥This is how Chengdu welcomes @KingJames!👑

🤩The Tianfu Twin Towers lit up for LeBron James, who is visiting Chengdu in southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Friday.#Lakers #NBA #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/nE4JKHoycK

— CGTN Sports Scene (@CGTNSportsScene) September 5, 2025

He passed, dribbled, shot and guided youngsters in China’s southwest Sichuan province. In Shanghai earlier, James was at Jiao Tong University’s Sports festival and told them, “It’s okay to fail. That’s all part of the journey.put your heart and soul into it. Go out and do it.” Before tip-off, he casually strolled to the court, shook hands with players and fired off the opening ball, driving the crowd utterly nuts.

Story continues below this ad

In a room where he sat in front of an awesome struck audience, and where Forever King was stenciled on the wall in metal, he was gifted a diadem, a crown in cyan green, though it ended up being a little too big for his head. It was a replica of a crown he apparently had in his house, according to the artist that carved it out of bronze. However this one had pictures of a phoenix, which represented hopefulness and vitality.

James also bit into a taco and sang a Taco Tuesday song to hooting audience.

Previous night, the Tianfu Twin Towers little up with King James clips playing on the structures in a loop like Times Square.

No one quite knows what the grand political leaders of the two superpowers are up to, but NBA stars have thronged China, with Steph Curry in Chongqing in August to launch his 2025 Asian Tour with a Curry Camp. Roars of ‘MVP’ had ring out back then in basketball crazy China. Billy Jean King was also courted for the Shenzhen tournament that’s upcoming.