The NBA has become enveloped in a geopolitical controversy surrounding their business with China after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey sent out a now-deleted tweet in support of protestors in Hong Kong. The public backlash has only continued following recent comments made by LeBron James, and now there are protestors planning to stage a rally prior in Vancouver to a preseason game between the Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers (via Joanna Chiu of Star Vancouver):
Demonstrators are planning to rally outside an NBA preseason game in Vancouver on Thursday night to voice their anger at the league’s response to Chinese backlash over a general manager's tweet supporting democracy in Hong Kong.
“We will not be silenced. … The NBA is part of a bigger issue and that bigger issue is how the freedom of Hong Kong concerns all of our freedoms when the world is facing a repressive and brutal regime,” said Lee Haber, spokesperson for the informal group of protesters.
Although NBA Commissioner Adam Silver expressed support for Morey's support to free speech, the Rockets considered firing Morey in the wake of the tweet. Additionally, some organizations have instituted a practical gag rule and banned reporters from asking questions about the league's relationship with China.
In July, the NBA partnered with a Chinese streaming agent on a $1.5 billion deal for the right to stream games. However, the outrage in response to the controversy has already resulted in a financial loss for the league, according to Silver.
Needless to say, this saga is far from over.
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