Protesters in Hong Kong have trampled on and set fire to LeBron James basketball jerseys in response to comments the global sports star made about the NBA's recent troubles in China.

Key points: James said the Houston Rockets general manager "wasn't educated" when he tweeted in support of Hong Kong

James said the Houston Rockets general manager "wasn't educated" when he tweeted in support of Hong Kong Politicians, human rights groups and fans have criticised James on social media

Politicians, human rights groups and fans have criticised James on social media Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam is set to deliver her annual policy speech today

The controversy comes after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sent a tweet in support of protesters in Hong Kong earlier this month, leading Chinese sponsors and partners to cut ties with the league.

James weighed in on the issue earlier this week by suggesting Mr Morey "wasn't educated" when he sent the tweet.

"We all talk about this freedom of speech. Yes, we all do have freedom of speech. But at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you're not thinking about others," he told reporters.

Protesters in Hong Kong set a LeBron James jersey on fire. ( AP: Mark Schiefelbein )

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"I believe [Mr Morey] wasn't educated on the situation at hand and he spoke."

Politicians, human rights groups and ordinary fans on social media have criticised the outspoken superstar, questioning the motivation for James's comments.

Senator Rick Scott of Florida, a frequent critic of James, accused the basketball star in a tweet of, "kowtowing to Communist China and putting profits over human rights for Hong Kong".

Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter, who has openly criticised "authoritarianism" in his native Turkey, appeared shocked by James's comments, launching into a tweet about how "freedom is not free".

Colombia University's Iain Levine, a professor of International Affairs, condemned James's suggestion Mr Morey was misinformed, saying in a tweet Mr Morey was "exercising his freedom of speech … a right that is so fundamental to us all".

'If you feel passionate about it, talk about it'

Basketball star LeBron James said his remarks on China were taken out of context. ( AP: Nell Redmond )

However, James told reporters on Tuesday (local time) he believed his comments about Mr Morey on Monday were taken out of context, calling the circumstances "tough".

"I mean, obviously it's a tough situation that we're all in right now, as an association," said James, who added that he often felt his words were taken out of context.

James elaborated further on the discussion about free speech.

"I also don't think that every issue should be everybody's problem, as well," James said.

"There's multiple things that we haven't talked about that happen in our own country that we don't bring up. There's things that happen in my own community.

"There's issues all over the world, and I think the best thing we can do is, if you feel passionate about it, talk about it.

"If you don't have a lot of knowledge about it or you don't quite understand it, I don't think you should talk about it. I think it just puts you in a tough position."

James finished his media conference by saying he would not discuss the subject moving forward.

Later in the day Hong Kong chief executive Carrie Lam gave her annual policy speech, after she was first unable to due to being jeered and heckled by MPs who were wearing masks of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Ms Lam eventually gave the speech and used it to call for peace and announce a policy that included more affordable housing.

According to Channel News Asia, Ms Lam will focus on land and housing initiatives in her speech, in a bid to restore confidence after four months of at-times violent anti-government protests.

Ms Lam has faced repeated calls to resign over her handling of the extradition law that thrust Hong Kong into its worst political crisis in decades.

ABC/AP