"This is not the time to try to crucify LeBron's character. We all know who LeBron is."
That's ex-NBA player Stephen Jackson going to bat for his pal, LeBron James ... telling TMZ Sports Bron ain't the kowtowing sellout some people are making him out to be.
Look, Jackson admits LeBron probably could have handled the China situation better ... but thinks people need to stop hatin' and consider all of the GOOD stuff Bron does for people.
"He's done so much off the court. We can't let this one incident when we knew he was coming from a good place [destroy his reputation].