Adam Silver” width=”1024″ height=”576″ class=”aligncenter size-full wp-image-732078″ srcset=”https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adam-Silver-Paris.webp 1024w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adam-Silver-Paris-210×118.webp 210w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adam-Silver-Paris-500×281.webp 500w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adam-Silver-Paris-768×432.webp 768w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adam-Silver-Paris-640×360.webp 640w, https://www.basketusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Adam-Silver-Paris-320×180.webp 320w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”/>It was five years ago, almost to the day. Daryl Morey sparked a political-sporting war by posting a message of support for Hong Kong protesters on Twitter.
Enough to trigger a response that the manager did not expect, with the boycott by Chinese television of the planned preseason matches, then of the entire league for many months. For the NBA, the financial consequences were heavy as the Chinese market was so important in its balance outside the United States. Since then, relations have warmed up but the league has still not returned to the Middle Kingdom…
“I think we will play matches in China again at some point”explained Adam Silver, the “commissioner” of the NBA, during a conference organized at Columbia University. “The Chinese government deprived us of the airwaves for a while. We accepted it. We defended our values. All members of our league have the right to express themselves on political issues.”
It remains to be seen when? Joe Tsai, the owner of the Nets, is campaigning for a rapid return.
“I think the NBA is in a very good position regarding its relationship with China”he explained last February. “China is actually the largest fan base for the NBA. And water has flowed under the bridges.”
In the meantime, the NBA has not remained idle, seeking to develop other markets, and in particular that of the Middle East, with preseason meetings organized in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
