ESPN leadership has barred sports pundits from discussing China and Hong Kong’s relationship on the network while the NBA conducts damage control over a Houston Rockets official praising Hong Kongers.
ESPN Senior News Director Chuck Salituro sent a memo to staff ordering all shows to avoid discussing the political tension between China and Hong Kong while reporting on the fallout from Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeting support for Hong Kong protesters resisting Chinese influence, according to Deadspin.
The tweet, posted Friday, caused an international incident between the NBA and one of its largest markets. The Chinese Basketball Association severed its ties with the Rockets organization, even though Morey deleted the tweet and apologized for causing offense.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver issued a statement on Sunday that brought harsh criticism from people in the United States that believed the NBA was bowing to Chinese censorship. Silver issued another, stronger statement on Tuesday.
“I recognize our initial statement left people angered, confused or unclear on who we are or what the NBA stands for,” Silver said on Tuesday.”We have seen how basketball can be an important form of people-to-people exchange that deepens ties between the United States and China.”
“Values of equality, respect and freedom of expression have long defined the NBA — and will continue to do so,” Silver continued. “It is inevitable that people around the world — including from America and China — will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences.”
Chinese state television has canceled broadcasts of the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets game scheduled to be played later this week. It is reviewing its partnership with the NBA and all future programming with the American professional basketball league.
