The recent NBA-China controversy illuminates why the U.S. must cautiously approach any decision to allow Huawei's 5G technology into the country, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr said Thursday on CNBC.

"This NBA issue over the last couple weeks shows how China can leverage all sorts of different levers to exert and have people toe its own political line," Carr said on "Squawk Alley."

"So I think that is a threat that that same type of influence could be exerted through Chinese-owned equipment in the U.S. market, which is why we're taking a very close look at the FCC about whether to do something about that," he said.

Carr's comments Thursday came one day after FCC Chairman Ajit Pai expressed similar concerns on Twitter about Huawei, the world's largest telecom equipment maker. The Chinese company's products are used by 45 of the world's 50 largest phone carriers, according to The Associated Press.

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The NBA found itself enmeshed in a geopolitical incident after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey expressed his support for Hong Kong protesters. The Chinese government and some businesses in the country responded forcefully, severing ties with the league in various ways.

Earlier this year, the U.S. blacklisted Huawei, and prevented it from doing businesses with American companies — though it was granted a reprieve until November.

U.S. officials accuse Huawei of being a national security risk, alleging its equipment could facilitate the transfer of data to the Chinese government. Huawei has consistently denied the allegations.