Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

1 hour ago

Wall Street Opens Muted in Countdown to Nvidia Earnings

2 hours ago

Fresno Leaders Voice ‘Full Support’ for Pismo’s Restaurant Manager in ICE Custody

18 hours ago

Poll: Katie Porter Holds Early Edge in California Governor’s Race

20 hours ago

Just 38% of Americans Support Trump’s Use of Troops to Police DC, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds

21 hours ago

Families Leave Gaza City After Night of Bombardment, Israelis Protest

23 hours ago

California Farming Couple Seeks $300 Million for Aspen Estate

1 day ago

Trump Administration Cannot Sue Maryland Federal Judges Over Immigration Order, Judge Rules

1 day ago

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

2 days ago

Trump To Sign Executive Order Directing AG To Prosecute Flag Desecration

2 days ago
NBA Postpones Nets-Lakers Media Sessions in Shanghai
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
October 9, 2019

Share

The NBA called off scheduled media sessions Wednesday for the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Lakers in Shanghai, and it remains unclear if the teams will play in China this week as scheduled.
The teams were practicing in Shanghai, where at least two other NBA events in advance of the start of the China games were canceled as part of the ongoing rift that started after Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a tweet last week that showed support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.
“Given the fluidity of the situation, today’s media availability has been postponed,” the league said. By nightfall Wednesday in China, which is 12 hours ahead of Eastern time in the U.S., the availabilities had not been rescheduled — though having them on Thursday remains possible.
An NBA Cares event in Shanghai that was to benefit Special Olympics was called off, as was a “fan night” celebration that was to be highlighted by the league announcing plans to refurbish some outdoor courts in that city. And workers in multiple spots around Shanghai were tearing down large outdoor promotional advertisements for Thursday’s Lakers-Nets game.
The teams are also supposed to play Saturday in Shenzhen. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver met with players from both the Nets and Lakers on Wednesday in Shanghai, telling them that the league’s intention remains to play the games as scheduled.

Stores That Sell NBA Merchandise Were Removing Rockets-Related Apparel

Chinese smartphone maker Vivo has joined the list of companies that have suspended — for now, at least — ties with the NBA, and that only adds to the uncertainty over whether the China games will be played. Vivo was a presenting sponsor of the Lakers-Nets games, and on Wednesday there was no reference to the game in Shanghai on the list of upcoming events scheduled at Mercedes-Benz Arena. Other firms such as apparel company Li-Ning announced similar moves earlier this week, as the rift was just beginning.

“And it wasn’t easy for him to say. He said that in an environment fraught with possible economic peril. But he sided with the principles that we all hold dearly, or most of us did until the last three years. So I’m thrilled with what he said.” — San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich
Silver said Tuesday in Tokyo that he supports Morey’s right to free speech. Several Chinese companies have suspended their partnership with the NBA in recent days, and Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said it will not broadcast the Lakers-Nets games.
“I’m sympathetic to our interests here and to our partners who are upset,” Silver 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.”
All around China, stores that sell NBA merchandise were removing Rockets-related apparel from shelves and many murals featuring the Rockets — even ones with Yao Ming, the Chinese great who played for Houston during his NBA career — were being painted over.
San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich spoke out Tuesday in Miami in support of how Silver is handling the situation.
“And it wasn’t easy for him to say,” Popovich said. “He said that in an environment fraught with possible economic peril. But he sided with the principles that we all hold dearly, or most of us did until the last three years. So I’m thrilled with what he said.”
Photo of fans holding signs ahead of an NBA exhibition game
Fans hold signs ahead of a an NBA exhibition basketball game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Guangzhou Loong-Lions on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The NBA Is Not the First Major Corporation to Deal With Criticism From China

Other NBA coaches have not been so willing to discuss the situation. Philadelphia’s Brett Brown said he did not wish to get into specifics of the China-NBA rift, though he said he has been to that country many times and is always blown away by how popular the game is there.

“Just massive amounts of basketball courts and you’re looking out and there’s no available court. It’s just people playing on a court. I took a (lower-level) Australian team to China and the story comes there was 400 million viewers watching not the true national team. You’re just reminded of the popularity of the sport.” — Philadelphia coach Brett Brown
“Just massive amounts of basketball courts and you’re looking out and there’s no available court,” Brown said. “It’s just people playing on a court. I took a (lower-level) Australian team to China and the story comes there was 400 million viewers watching not the true national team. You’re just reminded of the popularity of the sport.”
Brown’s 76ers played a Chinese team — the Guangzhou Loong Lions — on Tuesday night, and two fans said they were removed by arena security for holding signs and chanting in support of Hong Kong. The signs read “Free Hong Kong” and “Free HK.”
The sentiment was not different from Morey’s since-deleted tweet last week of an image that read, “Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong.”
The NBA is not the first major corporation to deal with criticism from China over political differences. Mercedes-Benz, Delta Air Lines, hotel operator Marriott, fashion brand Zara and others also have found themselves in conflicts with China in recent years.
After Morey’s tweet was deleted, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta said Morey does not speak for the organization. Joe Tsai, who recently completed his purchase of the Nets and is a co-founder of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba, has said the damage to the NBA’s relationship with China “will take a long time to repair.”

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to More Than 9,000 Acres in Sierra National Forest

DON'T MISS

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

DON'T MISS

TikTok Owner ByteDance Sets Valuation at Over $330 Billion as Revenue Grows, Sources Say

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Fatal Collision Under Investigation Near Kerman

DON'T MISS

Israel’s Gaza Campaign Is Making It a Pariah State

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Plans to Take Control of Washington Union Station

DON'T MISS

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Soros and His Son Should Be Charged With RICO

DON'T MISS

Wall Street Opens Muted in Countdown to Nvidia Earnings

DON'T MISS

Zohran Mamdani, Rapper Turned NYC Mayoral Frontrunner, Embraces Diverse Roots

UP NEXT

Entz: Bulldogs Must ‘Learn, Burn, Return’ After Kansas Loss

UP NEXT

From Visalia to the Big Leagues: Dave Flemming’s Journey to Giants’ Broadcast Booth

UP NEXT

Fresno State Bulldogs Can’t Find Answer for Daniels in Loss at Kansas

UP NEXT

Bulldogs Hope to Make Kansas Dust in the Wind as Entz, Warner Debut

UP NEXT

Everything Tennis Fans Need to Know About the 2025 U.S. Open

UP NEXT

ESPN Won’t Air Spike Lee’s Docuseries on Colin Kaepernick, Citing ‘Creative Differences’

UP NEXT

What Can MLB Learn From the Savannah Bananas? A Lot, It Turns Out.

UP NEXT

Barry Bonds Beats the Babe! Statistical Model Crowns a New ‘Greatest’ in Baseball

UP NEXT

EJ Warner Named Fresno State Starting QB, Gets Shout-Out From His Dad

UP NEXT

Fresno State’s Al’zillion Hamilton Ready to Lead Defense in 2025

Fresno County Fatal Collision Under Investigation Near Kerman

52 minutes ago

Israel’s Gaza Campaign Is Making It a Pariah State

1 hour ago

Trump Administration Plans to Take Control of Washington Union Station

1 hour ago

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

1 hour ago

Trump Says Soros and His Son Should Be Charged With RICO

2 hours ago

Wall Street Opens Muted in Countdown to Nvidia Earnings

2 hours ago

Zohran Mamdani, Rapper Turned NYC Mayoral Frontrunner, Embraces Diverse Roots

2 hours ago

California Searchers Pull Off High-Altitude Rescue of Missing Hiker

15 hours ago

Judge Grants Fresno Temporary Win in Federal Grant DEI Dispute

16 hours ago

Trump Administration Asks US Supreme Court to Halt Foreign Aid Payments

17 hours ago

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to More Than 9,000 Acres in Sierra National Forest

The Garnet Fire burning in the Sierra National Forest has grown to 9,170 acres with no containment, the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday. ...

5 minutes ago

The Garnet Fire in Fresno County’s Sierra National Forest has burned 9,170 acres with no containment as crews focus on protecting PG&E infrastructure near Balch Camp, the U.S. Forest Service said Wednesday, August 27, 2025. (U.S. Forest Service)
5 minutes ago

Fresno County Garnet Fire Grows to More Than 9,000 Acres in Sierra National Forest

Photo of caution tape
28 minutes ago

Three Dead in Minneapolis Shooting, Including Shooter, Justice Department Official Says

The ByteDance logo is seen at the company's office building in Shanghai, China July 4, 2023. (Reuters File)
38 minutes ago

TikTok Owner ByteDance Sets Valuation at Over $330 Billion as Revenue Grows, Sources Say

52 minutes ago

Fresno County Fatal Collision Under Investigation Near Kerman

Palestinian Child Carrying Water Amid Gaza City Rubble
1 hour ago

Israel’s Gaza Campaign Is Making It a Pariah State

U.S. National Guard members patrol inside Union Station, after U.S. President Donald Trump deployed National Guard and ordered an increased presence of federal law enforcement to assist in crime prevention, in Washington, DC, U.S., August 21, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Trump Administration Plans to Take Control of Washington Union Station

An Israeli tank manouvres at the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, August 26, 2025. (Reuters File)
1 hour ago

Israeli Tanks Close in on Gaza City, Trump to Chair Meeting

Billionaire investor George Soros speaks to the audience at the Schumpeter Award in Vienna, Austria June 21, 2019. (Reuters File)
2 hours ago

Trump Says Soros and His Son Should Be Charged With RICO

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend