Adam Silver: 'No Chance' of Daryl Morey Firing After Hong Kong Tweet

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said the Chinese government asked him and the Rockets to fire Daryl Morey after his tweets supporting Hong Kong protestors

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said on Thursday there was "no way," the Rockets would fire Daryl Morey after the Rockets GM's tweet in support of Hong Kong protestors. 

"We were being asked to fire him, by the Chinese government, by the parties we dealt with in government and business," Silver said at the TIME 100 Health Summit on Thursday. "We said there's no chance that's happening. There's no chance we'll even discipline him," 

Morey created an international firestorm on Oct. 4 when he tweeted a photo with the caption, "Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong." Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta quickly distanced Houston from the tweet, saying the Rockets are "NOT a political organization."

Listen....@dmorey does NOT speak for the @HoustonRockets. Our presence in Tokyo is all about the promotion of the @NBA internationally and we are NOT a political organization. @espn https://t.co/yNyQFtwTTi

— Tilman Fertitta (@TilmanJFertitta) October 5, 2019

The NBA suffered significant backlash following Morey's tweet. A pair of NBA Cares events in China were cancelled before preseason games featuring the Nets and Lakers, and CCTV–China's state-run TV network– suspended all NBA programming.

Silver added on Tuesday he is willing to deal with the economic consequences of strained ties with China. 

"Not only willing but we are," Silver said. The losses have already been substantial. Our games are not back on the air in China as we speak, and we'll see what happens next. ...The financial consequences have been and may continue to be fairly dramatic."