NBA superstar LeBron James, fresh off a tour to China to promote sneakers as part of his $1 billion Nike endorsement deal, touted basketball as a "bridge" between the East and West in an unprecedented essay published by the Chinese Communist Party newspaper People’s Daily . James, a forward with the Los Angeles Lakers, said he has been "deeply moved by the hospitality and friendliness of our Chinese friends" during the 15 trips he’s made to China in his professional career. He praised "China’s