NBA Silent on China’s Human Rights Abuses

The NBA terminates a general manager over a tweet about protests in Hong Kong. (Pixabay)

The Houston Rockets’ General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted an image with the words “Fight for Freedom” and “Stand with Hong Kong” on October 4. The backlash to Morey’s tweet from the Chinese government was swift and severe. China severed cooperations with the Rockets within two days, and Morey—who is widely revered as one of the best general managers in the league— faced termination for his tweet. The National Basketball Association (NBA), seemingly siding with China instead of Morey, decried Morey’s tweet as “regrettable.” Since Morey’s tweet, the NBA, including its players and coaches, have remained conspicuously silent on China’s human rights abuses despite bipartisan pressure from public officials and activists.

In Hong Kong, thousands have taken to the streets to protest China’s increasing attempts to exert more control over the city’s independence. Specifically, the protesters oppose an extradition bill that would allow Hong Kong residents to be tried in China’s judicial system as an attempt to erode Hong Kong’s judicial autonomy. Furthermore, critics point to China’s use of concentration camps against Uighurs and other minority populations as further evidence of human rights abuses.  

However, the NBA earns at least $500 million in annual revenue from China. Many critics point to this seeming conflict of interest as a reason for the lack of criticism from any players or coaches. 

Steve Kerr, the outspoken coach of the Golden State Warriors, said that he did not talk about China’s human rights abuses while in China, adding that Chinese ambassadors did not talk about America’s human rights abuses while in the U.S.—equating America’s gun epidemic with the Chinese government’s use of concentration camps.  

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a frontrunner in the Democratic primary for president, sharply criticized the NBA’s silence, saying, “the NBA chose its pocketbook over its principles—and our values. We should all be speaking out in support of those protesting for their rights.”

In a rare show of unity, liberal Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez joined several other members of Congress including Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), a senator known for his right-wing politics, in co-signing a letter to Adam Silver, the Commissioner of the NBA, The letter urged Silver to take four steps: support their employees’ freedom of speech regardless of economic consequences, suspend NBA activities in China until they end their selective treatment of teams, reevaluate building an NBA training camp in Xinjiang, where China’s concentration camps reside, and clarify that speaking out against human rights abuses falls within expected speech. 

Moreover, Cruz invited Silver to testify in front of a subcommittee on the Constitution, which Cruz chairs. Silver has responded neither to the invitation nor the letter. Meanwhile, the NBA has stripped fans of their signs protesting China at NBA games in America, an act prompting further criticism on social media. 

“They talked badly about the United States. But when they talk about China, they don’t want to say anything bad,” said President Trump at a press conference. “I thought it was pretty sad, actually, to see them pandering to China. It will be very interesting.” Notably, Trump also refused to criticize China’s human rights violations when asked in that same press conference. 

At a Houston Rockets press conference, a CNN reporter asked two of Houston’s star players, James Harden and Russell Westbrook, whether they would feel differently about speaking out in the future following the backlash. Although a spokeswoman tried to cut off the question, James Harden indicated he would answer the question. Yet, as they took the microphone from her, the two players stared ahead in silence.

“Any other questions?” the spokeswoman asked and quickly moved on to the next subject.