LeBron James called Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey uneducated and went off at-length about the “negative” side-effects of free speech, in reaction to Morey’s tweet of support to pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong.
On October 4th, Morey tweeted a message of support of Hong Kong’s demonstrators, saying: “Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong.”
That message touched off a firestorm of controversy as China canceled minor league exhibition games and canceled numerous business deals with the Rockets, and the NBA. On Monday, Lakers forward LeBron James spoke publicly about the incident for the first time, and didn’t mince words while calling Morey out for a tweet that he says could have caused people to be physically “harmed.”
Two-party politics ‘dead and buried’ in UK after local election bloodbath
Trump throws his base a UFO bone, but critics say it’s Iran ‘smoke and mirrors’
Democrats shy away from questions on whether Harris should run for president in 2028
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
Newsom’s ‘Golden State Start’ promises 400 free diapers per baby as California grapples with budget woes
U.S. military kills two alleged narco-terrorists in lethal strike on drug vessel in Eastern Pacific
Reckoning: Islamic Group with Terror Ties Set to Be Investigated by GOP
Trump Preparing to Fire FDA Commissioner Amid Nicotine Dispute and Pro-Life Outcry: Report
Video shows ICE officers arrest alleged MS-13 gang member described as ‘known suspected terrorist’ in Florida
Lawmaker Slaps Phone Out of Reporter’s Hand During Skirmish Over Data Center Story
16-year-old NC girl charged in triple murder of family members; arrested in Tennessee with 28-year-old man
Green Politician Wants to Limit Nursing Home Residents to 2.8 Oz of Meat per Week Due to Climate Change – That’s Less Than 1 Big Mac … Per Week
Obama Slammed for ‘Disgusting’ Decision to Speak at Event Organized by Man with Troubling Past
Did You Catch It? Trump’s Nat’l Day of Prayer Message Said Something Vital That No Other Day of Prayer Message Ever Said
Breaking: Russia, Ukraine Agree to Trump’s Ceasefire Request as He Pushes for a ‘Beginning of the End’
LeBron says he believes Rockets GM Daryl Morey wasn’t educated when he spoke about Hong Kong and that his tweet could have hurt a lot of people, including financially pic.twitter.com/UMj71DPQH7
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 15, 2019
The NBA received tremendous bipartisan criticism for their initial response to Morey’s tweet, when they responded by calling the post “regrettable” for the offense that it caused. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver eventually tried to quell the backlash by championing Morey’s free speech rights.
Two-party politics ‘dead and buried’ in UK after local election bloodbath
Trump throws his base a UFO bone, but critics say it’s Iran ‘smoke and mirrors’
Democrats shy away from questions on whether Harris should run for president in 2028
Two ‘dangerous’ inmates escape Kentucky detention center, sparking multi-agency manhunt across region
Newsom’s ‘Golden State Start’ promises 400 free diapers per baby as California grapples with budget woes
U.S. military kills two alleged narco-terrorists in lethal strike on drug vessel in Eastern Pacific
Reckoning: Islamic Group with Terror Ties Set to Be Investigated by GOP
Trump Preparing to Fire FDA Commissioner Amid Nicotine Dispute and Pro-Life Outcry: Report
Video shows ICE officers arrest alleged MS-13 gang member described as ‘known suspected terrorist’ in Florida
Lawmaker Slaps Phone Out of Reporter’s Hand During Skirmish Over Data Center Story
16-year-old NC girl charged in triple murder of family members; arrested in Tennessee with 28-year-old man
Green Politician Wants to Limit Nursing Home Residents to 2.8 Oz of Meat per Week Due to Climate Change – That’s Less Than 1 Big Mac … Per Week
Obama Slammed for ‘Disgusting’ Decision to Speak at Event Organized by Man with Troubling Past
Did You Catch It? Trump’s Nat’l Day of Prayer Message Said Something Vital That No Other Day of Prayer Message Ever Said
Breaking: Russia, Ukraine Agree to Trump’s Ceasefire Request as He Pushes for a ‘Beginning of the End’
Now, with the league representatives and players back from their tumultuous trip to China, it seemed like the news cycle of the NBA-China rift had died down. However, with James denouncing free speech in even stronger terms than the NBA did while calling a pro-democracy tweet “uneducated,” it’s difficult to see the crisis going away.
It’s also difficult to see why James would so willingly and unnecessarily reignite the controversy.
Then again, perhaps it makes sense after all. James is still the best and most popular player in the league. Moreover, for nearly ten years he’s championed numerous social justice causes and launched numerous attacks against President Trump, all to the delight of the sports media.
Maybe he’s become so used to being applauded for speaking his mind, that he no longer recognizes when he shouldn’t?
Story cited here.
