Not only are Chinese officials upset at Morey’s tweet, they also didn’t like NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s response to the tweet. “We are not apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression,” Silver said. “Daryl Morey, as general manager of the Houston Rockets, enjoys that right as one of our employees,” he continued. “What I also tried to suggest is that I understand there are consequences from his freedom of speech and we will have to live with those consequences.”
It sounds good in theory, but I’m not sure if the NBA is prepared to deal with the “consequences of losing one of their biggest financial supporters. 11 of the 13 companies have already suspended or cancelled their sponsorship with the NBA. One of those companies is Tencent, who has been the digital partner of the NBA since 2009. Before severing ties with the league, it had signed extension through the 2024-2025 season that was worth $1.5 billion dollars.
Silver who said he wants to meet with Chinese officials, has been apologetic without apologizing. He wants to keep the values of the NBA, without losing the money associated with China. “I’m sympathetic to our interests here and our partners that are upset,” he said. “I don’t think it’s inconsistent on one hand to be sympathetic to them and at the same time stand by our principles.”
However, playing both sides of the fence might not work for Adam Silver. China wants a stern and definitive reaction to Daryl Morey’s tweet. And it seems it has no problem separating itself from the NBA until it gets one. Now it is up to Silver and the NBA owners to decide what is more important, their principles or their paper.