What Did the NBA Say About China?
The NBA has been caught in the crossfire of the China-US trade war, with Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeting in support of Hong Kong protesters and China’s state TV broadcaster refusing to air Rockets games.
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The NBA’s Relationship with China
The NBA’s history in China
The NBA has a long history in China, dating back to 1979 when the league first sent players to the country for exhibition games. In recent years, the NBA has increased its presence in China, with multiple preseason games played in Chinese cities and a dedicated office in Beijing. The NBA is also broadcast on multiple Chinese TV networks and has millions of followers on social media.
The relationship between the NBA and China took a turn for the worse in October 2019, when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. The tweet sparked outrage in China, where the Rockets are popular, and led to the cancelation of several Rockets events and broadcasters refusing to air Rockets games.
In the wake of Morey’s tweet, several current and former NBA players spoke out in support of China. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James was criticized for saying that Morey “wasn’t educated” on the situation in Hong Kong and that he shouldn’t have sent the tweet. Other players, including Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets and Dwight Howard of the Los Angeles Lakers, spoke out against Morey and said that he should be fired for his tweet.
Eventually, Morey deleted his tweet and issued an apology, but the damage had been done. The NBA’s relationship with China was further damaged when a team executive for the Houston Rockets tweeted support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
The NBA’s current presence in China
The NBA has been working to establish a presence in China for several years now, and it has become one of the most popular sports leagues in the country. In recent weeks, however, the relationship between the NBA and China has come under strain, due to a Tweet from Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey.
Morey’s Tweet, which showed support for the ongoing protests in Hong Kong, was quickly deleted, but not before it sparked a firestorm of criticism from Chinese officials and businesses. The Chinese government quickly denounced Morey’s comments, and state-run media outlets began censoring coverage of the NBA. Several Chinese sponsors also cut ties with the league, and it remains to be seen how long this rift will last.
Despite the current tension, the NBA remains committed to its presence in China. Commissioner Adam Silver has said that he understands the anger and frustration that many people are feeling, but he has also said that the league is not willing to compromise its values in order to placate the Chinese government. It remains to be seen how this situation will play out in the coming weeks and months.
The NBA’s Statement
The National Basketball Association (NBA) has released a statement in response to the recent events that have transpired between the NBA and China. The statement addresses the recent situation where a Houston Rockets general manager expressed support for protests in Hong Kong, and how the Chinese government responded. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has also weighed in on the situation.
The NBA’s statement on the Hong Kong protests
The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the latest American institution to be thrust into the center of the debate over freedom and human rights in China.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the NBA said it “recognizes that the views expressed by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable.”
The statement went on to say that while Morey “has made it clear that his tweet does not represent the Rockets or the NBA,” the league understands “that the hurt and anger felt by so many people also requires us to listen and learn.”
Morey triggered an international uproar when he tweeted his support for Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protesters on Friday. The tweet was quickly deleted, but not before it drew backlash from Chinese officials and fans.
On Monday, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV canceled its plans to air two NBA exhibition games that were set to take place this week. And on Tuesday, Chinese sponsors including shoe company Li-Ning and internet giant Tencent suspended ties with the Rockets.
The Houston franchise is especially popular in China thanks in part to its former star center Yao Ming, who played for the Rockets from 2002 to 2011. Yao, who is now president of the Chinese Basketball Association, has not commented publicly on Morey’s tweet.
The NBA’s statement on the Uighur Muslims
The NBA has released a statement in response to the growing controversy over the league’s relationship with China.
“We recognize that the NBA has a large and growing fan base in China, and we are deeply concerned by the reports of human rights violations against the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang province. We take these reports seriously and have been in contact with the Chinese government seeking more information.”
The statement comes after several days of mounting criticism of the league’s response to a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.
The NBA has been heavily criticized for its response to Morey’s tweet, with many accusing the league of prioritizing its business interests in China over its values.
The Reactions to the NBA’s Statements
The NBA has been mired in controversy after a tweet from Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey showed support for the Hong Kong protests. The Chinese government and businesses have reacted angrily, and the NBA has been trying to calm the situation. Let’s take a look at the reactions from around the world.
The Chinese government’s reaction
The Chinese government’s reaction to the NBA’s statements was swift and severe. The state-run television network, CCTV, announced that it would no longer air any NBA games, and the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) suspended its partnership with the league. The CBA is the largest professional basketball league in China and is sponsored by CCTV.
The Chinese government also took action against the Houston Rockets, the NBA team with the most popular following in China. The Rockets’ general manager, Daryl Morey, had tweeted his support for the protesters in Hong Kong. In response, the Chinese government canceled all broadcasts of Rockets games in China and removed all Rockets merchandise from stores.
This reaction from China caused a sharp drop in viewership for NBA games in the United States. According to ESPN, ratings for NBA games fell by 10% after Morey’s tweet. Many American companies that do business in China, such as Nike and Apple, were also forced to choose between their business interests and their support for the pro-democracy protests.
The NBA’s fans’ reactions
The NBA’s recent statements about China have not gone over well with the league’s fans. Many of them feel that the NBA is kowtowing to China and not standing up for its values.
Some of the specific criticisms include:
-The NBA is putting money ahead of principles.
-The NBA is being hypocritical, since it has been critical of other countries in the past.
-The NBA is caving to pressure from China and not standing up for free speech.
This fan dissatisfaction is likely to have an effect on the league’s popularity and image. The NBA will need to tread carefully in the future to avoid further damage.
The NBA’s sponsors’ reactions
Many of the NBA’s sponsors have issued statements in response to the league’s statements about China. Some have supported the league, while others have criticized it.
Nike, one of the NBA’s biggest sponsors, issued a statement saying it is “deeply concerned” by the league’s recent statements. “We support freedom of expression and stand firm in our belief that sports bring people together,” Nike said. “Nike will continue to be a strong partner of the NBA.”
Anheuser-Busch, another major sponsor, also issued a statement supporting the league. “We are proud partners of the NBA and will continue to celebrate our shared values of diversity and inclusion,” the company said. “We do not comment on political matters.”
Other sponsors, such as State Farm and Verizon, have not yet issued public statements on the matter.
