Josh Peter | USA TODAY

USA TODAY

Correction: A previous version of this story misidentified the ethnicity of the person who shot and killed Trayon Martin in 2012. George Zimmerman identifies as Hispanic.

LOS ANGELES - When LeBron James gets off a plane in China on Tuesday, he better be ready.

Reporters surely will be waiting.

For the Brooklyn Nets.

For the Los Angeles Lakers.

But especially for LeBron. And if he wants to preserve his sterling and well-deserved reputation as an athlete willing to risk backlash while speaking out against social injustice, here’s what he must convey:

►He supports the right to free speech

►He believes in a free and open society

Anything less will leave LeBron looking like a sellout as he and members of the Lakers and Nets walk into controversy sparked by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who on Friday night tweeted support for Hong Kong independence.

Morey’s tweet was a nod to the Hong Kong protesters fighting a plan that would allow extraditions to mainland China, where democratic rights cease to exist for those accused of crimes.

Hong Kong, once a British colony, has been under the control of China since 1997.

When Morey’s tweet angered China's government, the NBA all but genuflected, issuing a statement that in part read it was “regrettable’’ that Morey’s tweet “deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China."

On Monday in Tokyo, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told Kyoto News, “I have read some of the media suggesting that we are not supporting Daryl Morey, but in fact we have.”

Kelvin Kuo, USA TODAY Sports

There should be no appearance of equivocation from LeBron, delicate as the situation might be. He is Nike’s best compensated and most globally recognized pitchman, and Nike does big business in China. How big?

In the most recent quarter, Nike’s Great China revenue increased by 22% to almost $1.7 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. In early 2016, not long after James signed a lifetime endorsement deal with Nike reported to be worth $1 billion, he had made 12 trips to China for Nike, according to cleveland.com.

Financial pressure may test the depth of LeBron’s commitment to social issues outside the United States and a commendable off-the-court reputation he has earned by doing the following:

►Donning a hooded sweatshirt in 2012 after the death of Trayvon Martin, an African American teenager who wore a hooded sweatshirt when he was shot to death by a neighborhood crime-watch volunteer.

►Criticizing President Trump for divisive politics and saying, “We’re not gonna let ... one individual no matter the power, no matter the impact that he should have or she should have, ever use sports as a platform to divide us.”

►Supporting Colin Kaepernick in his protesting of racism and police brutality and once telling the Los Angeles Times, "I think with Kap, I stand with Kap, I kneel with Kap.”

►Lamenting hate in America before the start of the 2017 NBA Finals after a gate outside his home was vandalized with the N-word.

And, most recently, speaking out in favor of the new California law that will allow college athletes to be paid for use of their name, image and likeness. He even had California Gov. Gavin Newsome on his HBO show, The Shop, where LeBron, in his own words, likes to chop it up while discussing important social issues.

Now’s the time to chop it up again.

Oppression in Hong Kong is an issue that deserves LeBron’s considered view.

Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Josh Peter on Twitter @joshlpeter11

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