Philadelphia 76ers fans ejected after 'Free Hong Kong' chants at game with Chinese team
PHILADELPHIA -- Hosting Chinese squad, Guangzhou Loong Lions, the Philadelphia Sixers tipped off with their preseason game, while suddenly finding themselves somewhat connected to an international incident.
Houston Rocket's GM Daryl Morey's support of freedom for Hong Kong triggered backlash between China and the NBA.
On Tuesday, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league is not apologizing for Morey's since-deleted tweet showing support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, even after China's state broadcaster canceled plans to show a pair of preseason games in that country later this week.
Silver, speaking Tuesday at a news conference in Tokyo before a preseason game between the Rockets and NBA champion Toronto Raptors, went as far as to say that he and the league are "apologetic" that so many Chinese officials and fans were upset by Morey's tweet and comments that followed - but insisted that Morey has the right to freedom of expression.
"Daryl Morey, as general manager of the Houston Rockets, enjoys that right as one of our employees," Silver said. "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."
Back in Philadelphia, preseason basketball got underway at the Wells Fargo Center Tuesday night, but the game did not keep fans from some sideline commentary.
Sam Wachs and his wife had their signs confiscated.
"There's no foul language, no politics. I asked why not. They said, 'Don't give me a hard time," Wachs said in an interview with ABC7 sister station, WPVI.
Wachs admitted he then stood up and started yelling "Free Hong Kong" before being escorted out.
"I think it's shameful, harsh reaction," Wachs added.
"Owners do have a right to talk about how they feel," said Michael Debaere of Morey's comments.
Kun Wang feels Morey crossed the line.
He's an international student studying at Temple. He can watch tonight's game. His friends at home can't.
"The game is banned in China right now, I think it's just pregames, but for the regular season, it will be getting better," said Wang.
There are 1.4 billion people in China, many of whom are NBA fans and generate millions in revenue for the league.
"It shouldn't be about the money, the money is going to come. If they want to be part of the NBA, and we want it to be a part of China, then it's got to be about basketball," said Michael Lenard.
"We're strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver's claim to support Morey's right to freedom of expression," CCTV said in a statement. "We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech."
The broadcaster is also reviewing all its cooperation and exchanges involving the NBA, said the statement posted to CCTV Sports' official social media account.
The NBA is not the first major corporation to deal with criticism from China over political differences. Mercedes-Benz, Delta Air Lines, hotel operator Marriott, fashion brand Zara and others also have found themselves in conflicts with China in recent years.
Silver is going to Shanghai on Wednesday and said he hopes to meet with officials and some of the league's business partners there in an effort to find some sort of common ground. He said he hopes Chinese officials and fans look at the totality of the impact of the three-decade-plus relationship between the league and their country, and urged them to see his response while acknowledging there are political differences between the countries.
"I'm sympathetic to our interests here and our partners that are upset," Silver said. "I don't think it's inconsistent on one hand to be sympathetic to them and at the same time stand by our principles."
Silver said the NBA did not expect CCTV to cancel plans to show the Lakers-Nets games. "But if those are the consequences of us adhering to our values, I still feel it's very, very important to adhere to those values," Silver said.
The rift between China and the NBA started late last week when Morey tweeted a now-deleted image that read: "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong," in reference to months of pro-democracy demonstrations in the semiautonomous Chinese territory that has been mired in escalating violence between protesters and law enforcement.
Efforts were quickly made to defuse the impact; Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said Morey does not speak for the Rockets, and Morey returned to Twitter on Monday in an effort to clarify his meaning.
But damage was clearly done: At least one Chinese sporting goods company said it was no longer cooperating with the Rockets, NBA streaming partner Tencent - which has a $1.5 billion contract with the league over the next five seasons - said it would not show Rockets games and a sports news website in China said it was no longer covering the team.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
