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How Freedom of Expression may have Cost the NBA it's Most Valuable International Market



The NBA is one of the most influential sports leagues in the world. In the past decade, it has drawn players from all over the world, like Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and rookie Rui Hachimura. With all this international influence, however, the NBA is on the verge of losing its largest international market: China. Last Friday, Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey put out a tweet in support of the protesters in Hong Kong. The protests, which have been going on since June, are surrounding proposals to allow extradition to mainland China. Morey's tweet was met with harsh criticism from the Chinese government, who have ordered CCTV, the state run television provider, to not air the remaining NBA preseason games, as well as cancel other NBA related events, such as the Lakers visiting a school yesterday as a part of the NBA Cares initiative.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver made this statement while in Japan in the wake of China's response: "I recognize our initial statement left people angered, confused or unclear on who we are or what the NBA stands for. Let me be more clear. Over the last three decades, the NBA has developed a great affinity for the people of China.  We have seen how basketball can be an important form of people-to-people exchange that deepens ties between the United States and China. At the same time, we recognize that our two countries have different political systems and beliefs.  And like many global brands, we bring our business to places with different political systems around the world. But for those who question our motivation, this is about far more than growing our business. Values of equality, respect and freedom of expression have long defined the NBA -- and will continue to do so.  As an American-based basketball league operating globally, among our greatest contributions are these values of the game. In fact, one of the enduring strengths of the NBA is our diversity -- of views, backgrounds, ethnicities, genders and religions.  Twenty-five percent of NBA players were born outside of the United States and our colleagues work in league offices around the world, including in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Taipei. With that diversity comes the belief that whatever our differences, we respect and value each other; and, what we have in common, including a belief in the power of sports to make a difference, remains our bedrock principle. It is inevitable that people around the world -- including from America and China -- will have different viewpoints over different issues.  It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences. However, the NBA will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say on these issues.  We simply could not operate that way. Basketball runs deep in the hearts and minds of our two peoples.  At a time when divides between nations grow deeper and wider, we believe sports can be a unifying force that focuses on what we have in common as human beings rather than our differences."


This tweet would not have been as big of a deal if it came from an official from another team. However, the Rockets are the most popular NBA team in China. CBA Chairman Yao Ming, regarded by many as the best Asian basketball player of all time, spent 9 seasons in Houston. Yao gave the Rockets a large fanbase in China, and there are statues of current Rocket James Harden in Shanghai. The NBA is the most popular league in China. With Silver defending Morey's right to freedom of expression, the NBA may lose it's largest international market if he is unable to repair the relationship between itself and the Chinese government. For more on the story, click here.















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