LeBron James said he believes Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was uneducated about the Hong Kong protests, and that sometimes freedom of speech carries negative ramifications.
“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,” the basketball star told reporters Monday. “So many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically, emotionally, and spiritually.”
The comment comes after Morey ignited a feud between the NBA and China over freedom of speech. The Rockets general manager voiced support for Hong Kong freedom protests on Twitter, and China responded by ending all business ties with the Rockets.
The NBA apologized to China before backlash forced NBA commissioner Adam Silver to say they stood by Morey and freedom of speech.
China has said the differences on the issue of free speech might have no “reconciliation.”
The NBA has responded to pressure from China by kicking fans out of basketball games who showed support for the Hong Kong protests and has also banned media from accessing players in China.
China has shut down the airing of the NBA preseason in its country and has threatened future business with the NBA if the league continues to speak against the Communist Party.
“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,” James said Monday night in response to backlash.
“My team and this league just went through a difficult week,” he went on. “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.”
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
