NBA China Dispute Explained
By Michael Luciano
The NBA's bottom line has been in a tailspin of late due to the fact they've been totally cut off from their Chinese market in the wake of some controversial comments regarding the Chinese government's unjust handling of democratic protests in Hong Kong.
Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey fired the first salvo, as he tweeted a pro-Hong Kong sentiment while the Rockets were in China for a preseason game.
Daryl Morey's Tweet
Reminder that this was the extent of Daryl Morey's tweet pic.twitter.com/hmSw3M1TaL
— Peter J. Hasson (@peterjhasson) October 15, 2019
Not long after that, China announced that they would stop streaming NBA games, and have cut off all contact with the Rockets franchise, which had a major following in China after the selection of Yao Ming.
The league was caught between a rock and a hard place. Either come out as pro-China and seem unpatriotic or anti-China and risk further harming the bottom line, as some projections claim that the NBA could lose 17 percent of their basketball-related income if they were to sever ties with China totally.
LeBron James took his first stab at addressing the issue, but many found that his anti-Morey comments left a lot to be desired.
LeBron James' Comments
Lakers’ LeBron James on NBA’s China controversy: “I don’t want to get into a ... feud with Daryl Morey but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand and he spoke.” pic.twitter.com/KKrMNU0dKR
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) October 15, 2019
He tried to dig his way out of the hole he dug for himself with some follow up tweets, but these did little to blunt the blowback.
Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk About that.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it.
— LeBron James (@KingJames) October 15, 2019
We haven't even begun to feel all of the social, political, and economic ramifications of this situation, which will only get more complicated with time.