Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is facing criticism after tweeting out his sentiments about the ongoing protests in Hong Kong. Morey’s message, which has since been deleted, included the phrases “Fight For Freedom” and “Stand With Hong Kong.”
This tweet has created a firestorm in China, and now NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is planning to meet with Chinese Basketball Association chairman Yao Ming to work toward a resolution:
Adam Silver says he plans to meet with Yao Ming, who is now the chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association. Silver: “I’m hoping together Yao and I can find an accommodation, but he is extremely hot at the moment and I understand it.”
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 8, 2019
Silver spoke with Kyodo News in Tokyo ahead of Tuesday’s preseason game between the Rockets and Toronto Raptors in Saitama. He says there was an economic impact related to Morey’s tweet. Ultimately, though, Silver noted that he supports Morey’s ability to express his opinion:
“There is no doubt, the economic impact is already clear,” Silver said via kyodonews.net. “There have already been fairly dramatic consequences from that tweet, and I have read some of the media suggesting that we are not supporting Daryl Morey, but in fact we have.”
“I think as a values-based organization that I want to make it clear…that Daryl Morey is supported in terms of his ability to exercise his freedom of expression.”
There have already been some consequences related to this matter, as CCTV said it would not show the games between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, who will play Thursday in Shanghai and Saturday in Shenzhen.
Silver released another statement on the matter in which he stood his ground when it comes to NBA personnel and their ability to exercise their rights to freedom of speech and expression.
The NBA has grown exponentially in China, thanks in large part to players like Yao Ming and Jeremy Lin. Clearly, this is an issue the league is concerned about, and Adam Silver is working diligently to keep the relationship intact.
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