Just hours before the event the Los Angeles Lakers event for NBA Cares was canceled. The cancelation has close ties with Houston Rockets owner GM Daryl Morey tweeting support to the protestors in Hong Kong.
The NBA has said that the decision to cancel was not their decision.
Also, an event with the Nets that would help an educational center in Shanghai was canceled by the Chinese government. Adam Silver, the NBA’s commissioner, stated that the league would still donate to the help the center.
The Nets and Lakers are supposed to have their first two preseason games this Thursday. Silver told players from both teams that he is still planning on the games to be played in Shanghai.
On October 4th, Daryl Morey tweeted out a picture of the “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong” in support of the pro-democracy protests. Commissioner Silver apologized about the outcome and reaction to his tweet but was not “apologizing for Daryl exercising his freedom of expression.”
The riots in Hong Kong began in June to allow extradition to the mainland in China. Carrie Lam, the city’s leader, suspended a bill that would allow authorities to detain criminal fugitives who wanted in areas of Hong Kong that don’t currently have extradition agreements.
The Chinese government has said that these protests have been “the worst crisis in Hong Kong” ever since the UK ended its administration of the city and has become under the control of China in 1997.
Loading ...