The NBA has issued a statement in response to the controversy surrounding comments made by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey on Twitter.
“We recognize that the views expressed by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable. While Daryl has made it clear that his tweet does not represent the Rockets or the NBA, the values of the league support individuals’ educating themselves and sharing their views on matters important to them. We have great respect for the history and culture of China and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together.”
In the tweet, which has since been deleted, Morey expressed support for the pro-democracy movement and protests occurring in Hong Kong.
The remarks prompted China’s official basketball association to suspend its co-operation with the Rockets, claiming Morey made “improper remarks regarding Hong Kong,” to which it expressed its “strong opposition.”
According to The Athletic‘s Shams Charania, the NBA does not intend to discipline Morey for the tweet.
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