Nets, Lakers 'NBA Cares' Events in China Cancelled After Morey Tweet

China's rift with the NBA continues after the cancellation of two community events featuring the Nets and Lakers.
Nets, Lakers 'NBA Cares' Events in China Cancelled After Morey Tweet
Nets, Lakers 'NBA Cares' Events in China Cancelled After Morey Tweet /

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A pair of NBA Cares events in Shanghai were cancelled this week as the fallout continues from Daryl Morey's tweet in support of Hong Kong protestors. 

The Lakers were slated to have an event benefiting the Special Olympics on Wednesday, one day after the Nets were supposed to hold an event at an education center in Shanghai. But both events have been cancelled, a move the NBA said was "not its decision," per ESPN

Los Angeles are Brooklyn are slated to play a pair of preseason games on Thursday and Saturday in Shanghai. Those games are now in jeopardy of being cancelled, according to USA Today's Jeff Zillgitt

NBA commissioner Adam Silver supported Morey while speaking in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"I think as a values-based organization that I want to make it clear ... that Daryl Morey is supported in terms of his ability to exercise his freedom of expression," Silver said.

China's state-run TV network CCTV has suspended its NBA programming due to the controversy. 

"We're strongly dissatisfied and oppose Adam Silver's claim to support Morey's right to freedom of expression," a CCTV statement read. "We believe that any remarks that challenge national sovereignty and social stability are not within the scope of freedom of speech."


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Michael Shapiro
MICHAEL SHAPIRO

Michael Shapiro is a staff writer for Sports Illustrated. He is a Denver native and 2018 graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.