“We have decided not to hold media availability for our teams for the remainder of our trip in China. The China market is estimated to be worth more than $4 billion for the NBA. China has accused the West of stirring up anti-Beijing sentiment in Hong Kong, and Chinese state media has characterised Morey’s tweet as the latest example of meddling in China’s affairs. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended Morey’s freedom of expression in a statement issued on Tuesday, further angering Beijing. Fan events were cancelled this week and partners have cut ties with the NBA, underscoring the severity of the situation for the league.

Source: The Star October 11, 2019 21:00 UTC