Fallout continues from Rockets GM Daryl Morey's tweet in support of Hong Kong protesters, as the NBA has "tried to limit the damage." The league in a statement said Morey's comments were "regrettable," and in a Chinese version of the statement, it added, "We are deeply disappointed about Morey’s inappropriate comment and he undoubtedly has hurt Chinese fans’ feelings severely." The incident has "sparked criticism from China that threatens" the league's expansion efforts in its "most important international market." But in the U.S., the NBA's response was "met with scorching bipartisan criticism" (BLOOMBERG NEWS, 10/6).
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, speaking to media today in Tokyo, indicated that the league backs Morey's "right to speak his mind on the Hong Kong protest issue, without endorsing what he said." Silver: "The economic impact is already clear. There have already been fairly dramatic consequences from that tweet, and I have read some of the media suggesting that we are not supporting Daryl Morey, but in fact we have" (KYODONEWS.net, 10/7).
