Sunday represents the one-year anniversary since Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey unintentionally sparked a firestorm with a tweeted image in support of a Hong Kong protest movement related to China.
On Oct. 4, 2019, Morey tweeted an image that read “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.” Within an hour, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta clarified with his own tweet that the team is “NOT a political organization,” but that wasn’t enough to stop the backlash from China.
By the end of the weekend, Chinese officials had asked NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to fire Morey for his remarks. However, both the league and the Rockets stood by the GM, citing a right to freedom of expression. Many prominent U.S. politicians of both major parties jumped in the fray, as well, with a bipartisan movement of support for Morey.
Tilman Fertitta to ESPN: “I have the best general manager in the league. Everything is fine with Daryl and me. We got a huge backlash, and I wanted to make clear that [the organization] has no [political] position. We’re here to play basketball and not to offend anybody.” https://t.co/tS15GIOpMh
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) October 5, 2019
The NBA’s decision to back Morey’s freedom of expression initially led to an apparent boycott of the league in China. In February 2020, Silver said the NBA could lose $400 million as a result of the fallout.
As the 2019-20 season moved along, the initially icy relationship between China and the NBA did show signs of thawing. However, as of the 2020 playoffs, Chinese networks still did not air Rockets games — even against LeBron James and the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers. By contrast, playoff games involving all other teams were shown.
The latest word as Game 1 nears is that Lakers vs. Rockets — normally as big as it gets in China for the NBA — will not be broadcast tonight via the country's official national broadcaster (CCTV) or Tencent. Rockets games, of course, have been banned from Chinese TV all season
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) September 5, 2020
Since drafting Yao Ming as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2002 NBA Draft, the Rockets have been arguably the most visible NBA franchise in China. Meanwhile, with 16 total NBA titles, the Lakers are probably the most prestigious basketball franchise in the world. The fact that a Rockets-Lakers matchup in the playoffs — the first since 2009 — wasn’t shown in China offered a strong signal as to the extent of the discord.
One year later, here’s a look back at key dates in this ongoing storyline.
October 4, 2019: Fertitta distances Rockets from Daryl Morey’s Hong Kong tweet
October 6, 2019: Chinese groups suspend ties with Rockets after Daryl Morey’s tweet
October 6, 2019: Report: Rockets have discussed removing Morey over China fallout
October 6, 2019: U.S. presidential candidate Yang blasts Chinese response to Rockets
October 6, 2019: Sam Amick refutes report of Daryl Morey’s job being in jeopardy
October 6, 2019: Rockets GM Daryl Morey, NBA issue statements on China incident
October 6, 2019: U.S. Senator Ted Cruz joins wave of politicians to support Daryl Morey
October 7, 2019: NBA commissioner backs Daryl Morey’s freedom of expression
October 7, 2019: China cancels planned G League exhibition with Rockets’ affiliate
October 7, 2019: James Harden, Russell Westbrook show support for Chinese fans
October 7, 2019: Democratic favorite Warren slams NBA’s response to Morey tweet
October 8, 2019: Chinese backlash expands beyond Rockets as NBA stiffens statement
October 8, 2019: James Harden, Mike D’Antoni downplay questions about China
October 9, 2019: U.S. lawmakers call out China’s selective treatment of Rockets
October 9, 2019: Report: China fallout could cost Rockets $10 million to $25 million
October 10, 2019: NBA objects to Rockets’ handling of media question about China
October 13, 2019: James Harden on Rockets’ China controversy: ‘I’m staying out of it’
October 14, 2019: Report: At least two Rockets had sponsorship talks stall in China
October 14, 2019: LeBron James blasts Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey over Hong Kong tweet
October 17, 2019: Adam Silver said ‘no chance’ when China asked to fire Daryl Morey
October 22, 2019: Shaquille O’Neal says Rockets GM Daryl Morey was right on China
October 24, 2019: Rockets GM Daryl Morey returns to Twitter after lengthy hiatus
October 25, 2019: Poll: Americans back Rockets’ GM Daryl Morey on Hong Kong, China
November 12, 2019: Report: Chinese backlash costing Rockets over $7 million this season
January 17, 2020: James Harden, Houston Rockets move up NBA merchandise lists
January 18, 2020: Former Rocket Dwight Howard avoids questions on Morey, China
February 16, 2020: Adam Silver: NBA could lose up to $400 million from China fallout
May 18, 2020: President Donald Trump on Rockets GM Daryl Morey: ‘He must be pretty good’
June 6, 2020: Tilman Fertitta sees nothing wrong with Morey’s Hong Kong tweet
July 25, 2020: Steve Kerr regrets his initial comments about Daryl Morey, China
September 4, 2020: Report: Rockets-Lakers series not expected to be shown in China
September 15, 2020: Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta: ‘Morey’s job is safe’
Now 48 years old, Morey has worked as Houston’s GM since 2007, and he’s one of the league’s most respected executives. Morey was voted Executive of the Year by his peers in 2018, and his Rockets now have the NBA’s longest streak of consecutive playoff appearances, at eight years.
[lawrence-related id=16406]
Interesting situation going on with Rockets GM, Daryl Morey, right now:
– Morey tweeted support for Hong Kong.
– Rockets owner, Tilman Fertitta, quickly distanced the team from the tweet, which has a big Chinese fanbase.
– Morey’s latest tweet has been ratioed by Chinese users. pic.twitter.com/5pEHPudZ58— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) October 5, 2019