THE CCTV Sports channel of China Media Group (CMG) announced yesterday that it will suspend the NBA broadcasting because NBA Commissioner Adam Silver supported improper remarks made by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey’s over China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

Earlier on Sunday, CMG had already opposed improper remarks made by Morey on the current situation in Hong Kong and decided to suspend the live-streaming of their games, as well as cooperation and communication with the team.

People from all walks of life in China have vociferously reacted to Morey’s tweet.

The Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), as China’s national body governing basketball, have suspended cooperation with the Rockets.

The Chinese basketball league followed the association’s move to cancel four scheduled games against the NBA G-League teams Oct. 19 and 20.

Apart from CMG, Tencent Sports, another major media partner of the NBA in the country, has decided to halt live streaming and news reporting of all games concerning the Rockets.

Furthermore, multiple companies, including Shanghai Pudong Development Bank’s Credit Card Center, sports brand Li Ning and Shanghai Jiayin Finance Technology, have announced ceasing all cooperative ties with the Rockets.

Meanwhile, the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Houston has also expressed strong displeasure over Morey’s comments.

The furore comes after Morey — whose Rockets attracted a huge following in China after signing superstar Yao Ming in 2002 — posted a tweet Friday featuring the message “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong.”

The Rockets have enjoyed a huge following in China since the club drafted Yao Ming in 2002.

The towering center averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds in eight seasons with the team and became president of the Chinese Basketball Association in 2017.

(SD-CGTN)