Rockets’ general manager’s Hong Kong comments anger China

BEIJING — Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tried Sunday to defuse the rapidly growing fallout over his deleted tweet that showed support for Hong Kong anti-government protesters, saying he did not intend to offend any of the team’s Chinese fans or sponsors. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA.” NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass said the league recognizes that Morey’s tweet “deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable.” Bass added that the league supports individuals “sharing their views on matters important to them.” “We have great respect for the history and culture of China and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together,” Bass said. But after Morey’s tweet, even the Chinese government’s consulate office in Houston issued a statement saying it “expressed strong dissatisfaction” with the team. The Communist Party’s official newspaper, People’s Daily, said in a commentary that Morey touched China’s bottom line: “Morey’s position is hurtful to Chinese basketball fans and is also an affront to the Chinese people.” People’s Daily also noted multinational corporations who likewise tested the line on Hong Kong have “paid a heavy price.” ___ More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports