Nike yanked Houston Rockets merchandise from some of its China stores after the Communist country started a feud with the NBA.
Managers at five of the stores in Shanghai said Thursday that a memo had been handed down by management demanding they take down Rockets merchandise. Other Nike stores across China also got rid of their Rockets merchandise.
Daryl Morey, the general manager for the Rockets, ignited the firestorm this week after he tweeted out support for freedom protests in Hong Kong. China retaliated by ending business with the Rockets and suspending broadcast of NBA preseason games in the country. The NBA will still be playing an exhibition game Thursday in Shanghai.
The NBA has come under heavy criticism from both China and fans in the U.S. China is angry that NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he backed Morey, while fans in the U.S. want the NBA and its players to speak out against Chinese oppression.
President Trump mocked outspoken Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr after he refused to talk to reporters about China. “I watched this guy, Steve Kerr. He was like a little boy,” Trump said. “He was so scared to even be answering the question.”
China state-run media has said there is “little room for reconciliation” with the NBA.
