Connect with us

Rockets

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley asks Adam Silver to cancel exhibition games in China

Adam Silver, NBA

U.S. Senator Josh Hawley has written a letter asking NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to cancel exhibition games in China.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey voiced support on Twitter for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Morey deleted the tweet and Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta posted a strong rebuke of Morey’s statement on Twitter.

However, a lot of damage has already been done because of Morey’s tweet:

As of February 2018, NBA China was valued at more than $4 billion, or $133 million in value for each of the 30 teams, according to Mike Ozanian of Forbes.

The NBA signed a five-year, $700 million deal back in 2015 with Tencent — a Chinese multinational conglomerate holding company — to carry NBA games in China. The NBA signed an extension in Tencent in July of 2019 worth $1.5 billion over five years.

Because of Morey’s tweet, the NBA’s relationship with China is now up in the air. Adam Silver said on Monday the NBA has already had a substantial economic impact from Morey’s tweet.

The Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets play in China on Oct. 10. There are a few other preseason games scheduled to take place in China. The Chinese Basketball Association has reportedly already canceled exhibition games involving the Rockets’ G League affiliate.

Silver and his team have some decisions to make.

The post U.S. Senator Josh Hawley asks Adam Silver to cancel exhibition games in China appeared first on ClutchPoints.

More in Rockets