Having already sustained massive financial losses prior to the global pandemic this season due to the fallout from Daryl Morey’s pro-Hong Kong tweets that the Chinese government officially believes violated their national sovereignty, the NBA was already exploring new avenues, such as expanding the G League with blue-chip recruits like Jalen Green, in hopes of driving revenue. And that’s smart because as the NBA attempts to resume the season and salvage what they can of it financially, even without fans, China won’t be there to help them.
China TV released a statement, reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, that Chinese TV does not intend to air NBA games, even if the league does return.
CCTV shut down that speculation, however, releasing a statement on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform, “reiterating its consistent stance on national sovereignty.”
Adam Silver has stated during All-Star Weekend that the NBA has lost over $300 million as a league due to the reaction to Morey’s tweet from Chinese corporations who were league partners, which are essentially all run by the state.
The NBA has made staffing changes to the NBA China office, but a change in the status between the two sides appears to be very slow.