LOS ANGELES — In a week that all Houston Rockets merchandise was spirited out of view in Nike stores throughout China, LeBron James remained in perfectly good standing across the Pacific.



In Shenzhen, less than an hour drive from the protesters in Hong Kong who are waging a fight for their sovereignty, the Nike Air Max LeBron 17, the newest signature sneaker that arrived in stores less than a month ago, was prominently displayed on a pedestal in the middle of the Swoosh’s showroom. Next to it rested a miniature Chinese flag.



The tableau told an important story, and said more about LeBron’s stake in the NBA’s China fiasco than anything he told a throng of reporters on Monday or in a separate huddle with the four American print reporters from The Athletic, ESPN and the Los Angeles Times who made the trek to China to cover the Lakers.



While many understandably chafed at James’ use of the word “misinformed” to describe...