The CHINESE BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION (CBA) has suspended its relationship with Houston Rockets after the NBA giant’s general manager offered his support to Hong Kong’s protesters.
DARYL MOREY the General Manager of HOUSTON ROCKETS tweeted an image which included the words “Fight for freedom, fight for Hong Kong” which has angered many CHINESE.
As well as the CBA, major broadcasters and sponsors have also halted their involvement with the ROCKETS.
It comes after months of anti-Government demonstrations in HONG KONG, the former British territory which is now a special administrative region of CHINA.
Protesters have repeatedly clashed with police and the situation has turned increasingly violent and ugly.
MOREY has since back-tracked on his tweet and the NBA has described his post as “regrettable”.
However, this reaction has also drawn criticism with some claiming it is putting the money from the sport’s key CHINESE market above the plight of the protesters.
The CBA is chaired by China’s most famous player YAO MING, who played for the ROCKETS between 2002 and 2011.
His involvement with the club means HOUSTON ROCKETS are one of the most popular teams in CHINA.
Sportswear company LI-NING followed the CBA’S stance, as did TENCENT which streams matches online.
The club’s sponsor in China, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, was another to suspend their involvement.
Broadcaster CCTV 5 said it would no longer show HOUSTON ROCKETS matches on television.
“The Chinese Basketball Association strongly disagrees with the improper remarks by Daryl Morey, and has decided to suspend exchanges and cooperation with the team,” the CBA said.
The NBA added that the post had “deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable”.
MOREY added: “I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China.
“I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event.
“I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.”
In 2008, NBA CHINA was launched to manage the sport in the country.
NBA deputy commissioner MARK TATUM told Forbes last year that revenue from the organisation is worth more than $4 billion (£3.2 billion/€3.6 billion).
