The Golden State Warriors have distanced the organization from minority-owner Chamath Palihapitiya’s comments about ethnic Uyghurs in China, saying that they “don’t reflect” the views of the team. So what, then, are the franchise’s views on the genocide of the Uyghurs?
Palihapitiya, who owns 10% of the franchise, said that no one cares about the genocide of the Uyghurs, that it was “below my line” of things to care about, and that caring about human rights is a “luxury belief.” The Warriors were forced to respond to this, issuing a statement that only asserted that Palihapitiya “does not speak on behalf of our franchise, and his views certainly don’t reflect those of our organization.”
So if Palihapitiya’s views don’t reflect those of the Warriors, would they be so kind as to tell us what their view of the genocide of the Uyghurs is? Would the Warriors be willing to acknowledge that China is indeed committing genocide and that it should be condemned? Or is this all just damage control to try and keep the franchise and the NBA from being sucked into another conversation about the league’s subservience to China?
Warriors statement re: Chamath Palihapitiya: pic.twitter.com/zUl6i9sOve
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) January 17, 2022
The Warriors’ history with China can answer those questions. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr refused to condemn China’s crackdown on Hong Kong, calling it a “bizarre international story,” even though he likes to tout the “big-picture, global perspective” of his outspoken politics. Warriors star Stephen Curry, who knew enough about politics to endorse Joe Biden at the Democratic National Convention, declared that he “didn’t know enough about Chinese history” to condemn an authoritarian government stamping out freedom in Hong Kong.
Another Warriors star, Klay Thompson, signed an endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear company Anta in 2014. Thompson said he wanted to become the “Michael Jordan of Anta” — a company that proudly declared its use of Xinjiang cotton, which is tied to Uyghur forced labor. Thompson made his triumphant return from injury earlier this year, continued to wear Anta shoes, and has not commented on the company’s slave labor ties.
Klay Thompson is expected to return tonight in the Anta KT 7.
The 3-time Champ’s newest shoe features a simple motivation on the bottom:
“Rings • Rings • Rings … Rings”#KlayDay pic.twitter.com/phCUD4hRJd
— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) January 9, 2022
Most telling is what Warriors President Rick Welts said in 2017. “We want to be China’s team in the NBA,” Welts said. “We think we have all of the right factors in play.” He was right: By 2019, the Warriors were the most popular NBA team in China.
The Warriors say that Palihapitiya doesn’t speak for them, but actions speak louder than words. The Warriors’ pursuit of the Chinese market and ongoing silence about China’s abuses suggests that they, like Palihapitiya, do not care about the genocide of the Uyghurs. If that is untrue, they should say so, but don’t hold your breath waiting for a response.
