NBA Commissioner Adam Silver doubled-down Tuesday on defending Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s support of the Hong Kong protests — even as the commish headed to China to do damage control.
“Daryl Morey, as general manager of the Houston Rockets, enjoys that right [to free expression] as one of our employees,” said Silver at a news conference before a preseason game between the Rockets and Toronto Raptors being played in Tokyo.
In a since-deleted Friday tweet, Morey wrote, “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong,” in reference to protesters’ months-long demonstrations against the Chinese government.
“What I also tried to suggest is that I understand there are consequences from his freedom of speech, and we will have to live with those consequences,” said Silver, who is set to meet Wednesday in Shanghai with officials and league business partners in an effort to mend fences.
But the financial consequences continued to pile up on Tuesday, as CCTV, China’s largest state-run television station, announced it would not air two exhibition games between the LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets scheduled for Thursday in Shanghai and Saturday in Shenzhen. “We’re strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver’s claim to support Morey’s right to freedom of expression,” said CCTV in a statement. “We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech.”
CCTV added it is now reviewing any future ventures with the NBA, as several deep-pocketed Chinese businesses have already severed ties with the Rockets. Among those organizations is the Chinese Basketball Association, which is chaired by Rockets great Yao Ming.
“I’m hoping that together Yao Ming and I can find an accommodation,” said Silver. “But he is extremely hot [emotional] at the moment, and I understand it.”
Silver admitted he was caught off guard by CCTV’s decision not to broadcast the two exhibition games but that it did little to change his mind.
“If those are the consequences of us adhering to our values, I still feel it’s very, very important to adhere to those values,” said the commissioner.
But Silver maintained that standing by Morey’s right to speak his mind is not mutually exclusive with his desire to repair relations with China. “I’m sympathetic to our interests here and our partners that are upset,” said Silver. “I don’t think it’s inconsistent on one hand to be sympathetic to them and at the same time stand by our principles.”