DARYL MOREY

The Philadelphia 76ers went 51-31 and lost in the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

Ten years ago, Morey pulled off a forward-thinking, franchise-altering trade for the Houston Rockets, acquiring Oklahoma City Thunder sixth man James Harden. Morey saw something in Harden that others missed, and he empowered his new superstar to become the face of the Houston Rockets. In short order, Harden accomplished that lofty goal while making himself one of the most unique, dynamic scorers in modern NBA history. This time around, Morey acquired Harden by sending Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two future first-round picks to Brooklyn. Daryl Morey saw something in James Harden that others missed, and he empowered his new superstar to become the face of the Houston Rockets.

James Harden has an MVP and several scoring titles on his mantle – and now he’s ready to add a championship trophy.

The Brooklyn Nets no longer needed to wait for Kevin Durant to get healthy, or for Kyrie Irving to get vaccinated, or for James Harden to make a decision about free agency.

James Harden will not play for the Philadelphia 76ers in games Friday and Saturday night.

Between injuries, Kyrie Irving's part-time role, and general instability, James Harden found that his time with the Nets wasn't what he had hoped for.

The Philadelphia 76ers have traded Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden as part of a multiplayer deal.

A Chinese professional tennis player not seen in public since she accused a former top government official of sexual assault purportedly sent an email claiming she was safe and that the allegation was false.

Chinese broadcaster and NBA partner Tencent has deleted all references to the Boston Celtics from its platforms, in apparent response to comments Celtics center Enes Kanter made to advocate Tibetan independence.

Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter waded into an especially sensitive subject for the NBA with his comments advocating for a free Tibet, as China is by far the league's largest foreign market.

The NBA celebrates it 75th anniversary with its 2021-22 season. League commissioner Adam Silver projects $10 billion in revenue.

Ben Simmons has reported to the Philadelphia 76ers but the disgruntled All-Star guard still may not play for the franchise.

Ben Simmons could return to the Philadelphia 76ers.

New Dallas coach Jason Kidd is already thinking of ways to tell Luka Doncic he has help on the roster.

The Sixers All-Star guard will make roughly $145 million over the next four seasons and will be the topic of trade rumors this NBA offseason.

The Philadelphia 76ers have to figure out if Ben Simmons can be fixed in the offseason.

The Philadelphia 76ers face an uncertain future after an early exit in the playoffs.

The Philadelphia 76ers have not played like a top seed in the East against the Atlanta Hawks.

Miami Heat President Pat Riley has been fined $25,000 by the NBA for being too clear that he’d eagerly welcome a reunion with LeBron James.

Actor John Cena has apologized to fans in China after he called Taiwan a country in a promotional interview for his upcoming film and became the latest celebrity to face the fury of Chinese nationalists.

The Philadelphia 76ers are trying to make quick work of the Washington Wizards as they open their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

Seth Curry scored 20 points, Joel Embiid had 13 points and 11 rebounds and the Philadelphia 76ers clinched the top seed for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference with a 122-97 victory over the Orlando Magic on Friday night.

Morey hasn't had to make any major moves in his first season running the Philadelphia 76ers. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)PHILADELPHIA – Like any top NBA executive this time of the season, Daryl Morey is trying to better his roster. “I just grabbed all the Sixers,” Morey said. “Younger fans want to feel like they’re part of something,” Morey told The Associated Press in an interview this week. “Well, we happen to have the best inside players in the NBA,” Morey said.

FILE - In this Feb. 19, 2021, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers' Joel Embiid reacts after making a basket during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Chicago Bulls in Philadelphia. “The fans are always there for me when I play,” Embiid said. Ad“It’s nice to have a big guy in the MVP talk,” Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal told The Associated Press. AdHe is trying to become the first Sixer to win NBA MVP — the fans call it an MVBiid campaign — since Iverson in 2001. Nobody can guard you.’ I think that’s a big reason he’s having the season he’s having.”Morey, though, is fine with Embiid shooting from deep.

Portland Trail Blazers' Rodney Hood, left, tries to dribble past Philadelphia 76ers' Seth Curry during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021, in Philadelphia. Gary Trent Jr. scored 24 points and Enes Kanter had 17 points and 18 rebounds to lead the undermanned Trail Blazers to a 121-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday night. Carmelo Anthony had 22 points and a Trail Blazers team with four starters missing led by as many as 29 points against the top team in the East. “But on both ends of the floor, the other guys did an amazing job today.”Joel Embiid scored 37 points for the Sixers. Throw in four players already out with injuries -- including Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) and McCollum (left foot) -- and the Trail Blazers were down to nine players.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) passes the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers during the third quarter of an NBA basketball game Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Houston. (Troy Taormina/Pool Photo via AP)NEW YORK – James Harden used his final interview in Houston to say that his team wasn't good enough. “You just add that all together, and it’s like, that’s a legit chance right there,” Harden said. General manager Daryl Morey and coach Mike D'Antoni weren't going to return and Harden didn't believe in the roster left behind. That seems OK with Harden — as long as the Nets are winning.

Houston Rockets guard James Harden shoots over Portland Trail Blazers forward Robert Covington during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore., Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. (AP Photo/Steve Dykes)NEW YORK – The NBA fined Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey $50,000 on Monday for a since-deleted tweet about Houston’s James Harden that violated the league’s anti-tampering rule. Typically, teams are prohibited from discussing players under contract to other teams and the NBA has warned clubs that it can be considered tampering. A tweet by Morey in 2019 led to major problems for the NBA and its relationship with China. NBA games were not shown on CCTV, China's state broadcaster, for one year after that since-deleted tweet.

“Obviously, I’m not the easiest guy to understand,” Westbrook said. Westbrook was at practice on Saturday with the Wizards, the team that sent former No. “I’m here in Washington,” Westbrook replied. “I’m all about trying to do things the right way, regardless of if anybody likes it or not,” Westbrook said. “My thing is making sure that I’m doing the right thing for the right people and impacting as many people as possible.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Simmons says hes 100% healthy following surgery on his left knee in August that kept him from playing in the postseason. “I mean, you can’t just come into a situation like the bubble if you guys aren’t ready and don’t have that chemistry and accountability already,” Simmons said Friday. The same team Rivers coached last season that blew a 3-1 playoff series lead in the Western Conference semis and led him to leaving Los Angeles? Simmons said accountability -- the new buzzword in Philly - starts with the players. I think Doc would say the same thing, I go out there and make plays.”___More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Pressed on Embiid and Simmons, Morey quipped he was low on the tenure board. “I think they absolutely can work together,” Morey said, “but Doc’s been here a little longer than me. “Whatever my role needs to be, I accept that role,” Brand said. “The goal is not to shoot 3-pointers, the goal is to win,” Morey said. Or Morey and Rivers, who bring decades of sustained winning to Philly and will demand players do it their way?

The Houston Rockets and Stephen Silas have an agreement for the Dallas assistant to replace Mike D'Antoni as coach, multiple people with knowledge of the deal said Wednesday. Silas inherits a team led by a pair of former MVPs in Harden and Russell Westbrook. The longtime NBA assistant has worked worked with elite guards before, most recently in two seasons with the Mavericks and 21-year-old sensation Luka Doncic. The nine seasons as a Charlotte assistant for Silas included time with Kemba Walker, and he was with Golden State when the Warriors drafted Stephen Curry in 2009. Paul Silas spent 16 years as a player in the NBA and another 22 as a coach.

Morey stepped down as GM of the Rockets earlier this month after failing to lead the franchise to the NBA Finals. The Rockets made the playoffs 10 times since Morey was hired in 2007, including the last eight seasons, for the longest active streak in the NBA. Morey and the Rockets split a little over a year after he sparked a rift between the NBA and Chinese government. Morey caused an international uproar last year when he tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. Morey tweeted an image that said: “Fight For Freedom.

FILE - This is a July 26, 2019, file photo showing Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey during an NBA basketball news conference, in Houston. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)HOUSTON – Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a little over a year after sparking a rift between the NBA and Chinese government. Fertitta added that Morey is helping him through the transition and they'll promote vice president of basketball operations Rafael Stone to general manager. Morey worked as Houston's assistant general manager for one season under Carroll Dawson before he retired after the 2007 season and Morey was promoted to his job.

From China to Disney, this was an NBA season like none other — and quite probably like none ever again. The NBA offseason has officially started, the bubble at Walt Disney World is closed and the Lakers have their 17th championship. But while a difficult season is over, the difficulties the league and players face are not. The players fight against racial inequality and their quest for social justice, which were top priorities of this NBA restart, continue. And while nobody knows when the next NBA game is, the Lakers’ LeBron James began looking forward during the trophy ceremony celebrating his fourth title.

Employees watch a live broadcast of Game 5 of the NBA Finals at an NBA store in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The NBA is returning to Chinese state television after a one-year absence. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – The NBA is returning to Chinese state television after a one-year absence. “In the Chinese National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival that just passed, the NBA expressed holiday blessings to Chinese fans," the China Media Group, essentially the operator of CCTV, said in a statement. NBA games have been available to Chinese fans on the streaming service Tencent, another of the league’s broadcast partners.

(AP Photo/John Raoux, File)After four months of waiting and planning, the NBA bubble is ready to be tested. The first six teams Brooklyn, Denver, Orlando, Phoenix, Utah and Washington are scheduled to arrive Tuesday at the Disney complex. Another eight teams arrive Wednesday, the last eight arrive Thursday, and with that training camps will be on the cusp of beginning. If the plan works, all teams will be at Disney for at least 5-1/2 weeks and some teams will be there for more than three months. But once the games start, theyre every other day, I think the players will be fine.

"I think that the magnitude of the loss will be in the hundreds of millions of dollars," Silver said. Weeks after Morey deleted the tweet, Silver admitted the NBA suffered "substantial" losses as the rift intensified. Silver also mentioned the possibility of NBA games returning to China this year. But despite the yet unknown losses from suspended business with China, Silver believes regular business will resume. He did not give a timeframe of when the NBA expects games to be shown on CCTV.

What is clear is that Chinese NBA fans a massive and passionate group strategically targeted for the last two decades have been limited significantly in their opportunities to watch the players and teams they love. Houston GM Daryl Moreys tweet in support Hong Kong protesters continues to be a sore point between the NBA and China. Government-run China Central Television used to show NBA games three days a week, with one to two games per day. Last season, 490 million fans in China watched the NBA on Tencent, nearly three times the number who watched during the 2014-15 season. Chinese fans of the Rockets appear to have it the worst.

At the same time, some will look to offload money, hoping to avoid a luxury tax bill. According to league sources who spoke to CNBC, Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta is seeking to shed additional salary off the team's nearly $140 million payroll hoping to avoid a luxury tax. The way the tax system works is the NBA penalizes a team when its payroll rises above $132 million for the 2019-20 season. From there, the tax will increase 50 cents for each additional $5 million a team is over, according to the NBA-NBPA collective bargaining agreement. If a team pays the luxury tax in at least four out of five seasons, the fee is then increased by $1.00.

At Sunday's Miami Heat game against the Houston Rockets, a group of demonstrators with the Miami-based Cuban American National Foundation showed support of Hong Kong protesters. Stand with Hong Kong," and chanted "Let's go, Heat. Hong Kong free." "Hong Kong is fighting against China and the efforts of the Communist Party," says Omar Lopez, CANF's director of human rights. Stand With Hong Kong," was deleted shortly after it was posted October 4.

Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday accused the NBA of "acting like a wholly owned subsidiary" of China's ruling Communist Party after a top Houston Rockets executive enraged that country's authoritarian leaders with his support of anti-government protestors in Hong Kong. An NBA spokesman said after the tweet that Morey's views "have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable." On the heels of Morey's tweet, nearly all of the NBA's Chinese partners ended or suspended their relationships with the league. "In siding with the Chinese Communist Party and silencing free speech, the NBA is acting like a wholly owned subsidiary of the authoritarian regime," the vice president said. The NBA and Nike had no immediate comment when contacted by CNBC.

Basketball Hall of Fame player Shaquille O'Neal lent his support to Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, who ignited an international clash with China earlier this month when he tweeted support for anti-government protests in Hong Kong. O'Neal, who didn't say whether he agreed with Morey, said he was right to speak out. Whenever you see something wrong going on anywhere in the world, you should have the right to say, 'That's not right.' "They understand our values, we understand their values. Stand With Hong Kong" has caused a rift between China and the NBA as executives publicly support Morey's protected right to free speech in America.

Daryl Morey was right, ONeal said on TNTs Inside the NBA program in Los Angeles on the opening night of the National Basketball Association (NBA) season. Whenever you see something wrong going on anywhere in the world, you should have the right to say Thats not right and thats what he did, he added. ONeal said that even if the values in the two countries differ, they need to show each other respect. We as American people, we do a lot of business in China and they know and understand our values and we understand their values, he said. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on Thursday said the fallout had caused the league substantial financial losses in China.

Businessman Mark Cuban listens as he is introduced at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Film Interactive Festival 2017 in Austin, Texas, March 12, 2017. Mark Cuban, billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks, says pressure from China to silence NBA players and managers hasn't changed anything at the basketball league"What influence? Cuban's comments come after Daryl Morey, general manager of the Houston Rockets, tweeted support for anti Chinese government protests in Hong Kong earlier in October. Nearly all the NBA's Chinese partners suspended their ties with the league following initial backlash from China. The NBA has grown to become China's most popular sports league, where more than more than 300 million people in China play basketball, according to the NBA.

The 2022 Winter Olympics shouldn't be held in China, Sen. Rick Scott said Tuesday, referring to the recent standoff between Beijing and the NBA as well as the Chinese regime's human rights violations. The Hong Kong protests, which have escalated over the past four months, began in response to a now-withdrawn proposed extradition bill that activists said would threaten judicial protections. "Human rights are important to us in America," the senator said. "There's no human rights over there. They're trying to take them away from China, or from Hong Kong."

A Chinese flag is placed on merchandise in the NBA flagship retail store on October 9, 2019 in Beijing, China. The government-controlled broadcaster said Silver "crossed the bottom line" by continuing to defend Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey. "To cater to the taste of certain American politicians," CCTV claims, Silver "fabricated lies out of thin air" and portrayed China as unforgiving. Silver ... is using so-called 'freedom of speech' to cover for Morey, who voiced support for violent elements in Hong Kong. CCTV China state broadcasterChina has denied making that request.

The NBA has already suffered "substantial" losses as Chinese businesses distance themselves from the league, Silver said. Chinese state-run television network CCTV suspended its broadcast arrangements for the NBA's preseason games in China, and Tencent, which owns the digital streaming rights for the NBA in China, also suspended its preseason broadcast agreement. The Chinese government asked the NBA to fire Morey for his now-deleted Oct. 4 tweet. On Thursday, Silver said he told Chinese officials "there's no chance" Morey will be fired for speaking his mind. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Geng Shuang, however, on Friday denied that China asked for Morey to be fired, according to Reuters.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Chinese officials wanted Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to be fired for his tweet supporting anti-government protesters in Hong Kong, and the league emphatically dismissed the request. Silver also said that the league is already feeling "substantial" financial losses because of the Chinese reaction to Morey's deleted tweet. "I felt we had made enormous progress in terms of building cultural exchanges with the Chinese people," Silver said. Morey has not been rebuked publicly by the league, and Silver has said that the league will support his freedom of expression. Tencent, which has a $1.5 billion deal to stream NBA games in China over the next five years, has also stopped showing Rockets games but has not totally dropped all NBA content.

CNN image(CNN) - Basketball star LeBron James has finally weighed in on the ongoing NBA-China dispute, criticizing Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey as being misinformed about the situation. The league is embroiled in a standoff with China after Morey tweeted his support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. Speaking to reporters on Monday before a game in Los Angeles, James, who is known for speaking out on social justice issues, called it "a very delicate situation, a very sensitive situation." In recent weeks demonstrators have burned Chinese flags, spray painted "Hong Kong is not China" across the city, and even attacked Chinese owned-businesses. Through all of this, NBA players have stayed relatively quiet, making James one of the first to speak out on the issue.

Hong Kong protesters on Tuesday trampled LeBron James jerseys and gathered in a semicircle to watch one burn. James' standing among basketball fans in Hong Kong took a hit over his recent comments suggesting that free speech can have negative consequences. "People are angry," said James Lo, a web designer who runs a Hong Kong basketball fan page on Facebook. Demonstrators set a Lebron James jersey on fire during a rally at the Southorn Playground in Hong Kong, Tuesday, October 15, 2019. A demonstrator stomps on Lebron James jerseys during a rally at the Southorn Playground on Tuesday, October 15, 2019.

When the ball smashed into a photo of LeBron James face stuck above the hoop and dropped into the basket, the Hong Kong protesters cheered. James standing among basketball fans in Hong Kong took a hit because of comments the NBA star made about free speech. People are angry, said James Lo, a web designer who runs a Hong Kong basketball fan page on Facebook. A demonstrator in Hong Kong stomps on LeBron James jerseys. AdvertisementDemonstrators in Hong Kong set a LeBron James jersey on fire.

Zedd, a high-profile DJ and music producer, has been permanently banned from China for liking a tweet from "South Park's" official account. On Friday, Zedd tweeted about the ban, and CNBC verified the claim with his publicist on Saturday. It's unclear at the moment whether this means that Zedd has a travel ban to China. As of Saturday, his music was still available on Chinese music streaming site QQ Music. Beijing responded by heavily censoring content related to "South Park" on search engines like Baidu and other online services.

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images(CNN) - The NBA has canceled all media access for the remainder of its visit to China as it puts players in a "complicated" and "unfair" situation, it said. The league is embroiled in a standoff with China after the Houston Rockets' general manager Daryl Morey tweeted his support for the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The announcement comes a day after CNN's Christina Macfarlane was shut down by a Houston Rockets' media officer as she tried to ask James Harden and Russell Westbrook a question about the NBA's position with China during a news conference in Tokyo. Macfarlane has since received an apology, with NBA spokesperson Mike Bass saying the incident was "inconsistent with how the NBA conducts media events." The LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets are set for a rematch in Shenzhen Saturday, the last game of the NBA's pre-season tour of Asia.

A Chinese flag is seen placed on merchandise in the NBA flagship retail store on Oct. 9, 2019, in Beijing, China. The tweet, sent by Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey, set off a firestorm that has dramatically affected the two teams' trip to China. All of the NBA's official Chinese partners have suspended ties with the league, and fans are likely to follow suit. A marquee preseason matchupInterest in the China games had been higher than usual for a preseason game because they feature the league's biggest star, LeBron James, and two All-Stars on new teams -- the Lakers' Anthony Davis and the Nets' Kyrie Irving. The NBA's digital and TV partners in China had already announced they would not live-stream preseason games in the country.

CNN(CNN) - U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken for the first time about the escalating tensions between the NBA and China as he took aim at the coaches of the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors. All of the NBA's official Chinese partners have now suspended ties with the league as it continues to grapple with the fallout. "But they talk badly about the United States, but when it talks about China they didn't want to say anything bad. When asked to clarify his own position on how the Chinese government is pressuring the NBA, Trump said they had to "work out their own situation." He continued: "I watched the way Kerr, Popovich, and some of the others who are pandering to China."

Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey caused substantial damage with the NBA's growing relationship with China after he voiced his support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protestors. CCTV 5, the sports channel of China's top state broadcaster, announced that it would suspend airing Houston Rockets events on television. Nearly 500 million people in China watched NBA programming on Tencent platforms during the last season, according to the companies. Monday, Oct. 7: NBA's initial response sparks outrageThe NBA said that it recognizes that Morey's views "have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable." Beto O'Rourke, a Democrat from Texas who is running for the party's presidential nomination in 2020, called the NBA's response "an embarrassment."

Kevin Frayer | Getty ImagesNBA players have been unusually quiet on China since the nation started severing ties with the league. "I think it's a fine line, and when you're walking that fine line, it's best to not even play around with it." NBA players and officials have been walking that line since Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong on Friday, according to interviews with players, league officials and sports agents. Stand with Hong Kong," has since been deleted. Workers remove a banner advertising Thursday's NBA China Games between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers from a building in Shanghai, October 9, 2019.

President Trump mocked two of his frequent critics, NBA head coaches Steve Kerr and Gregg Popovich, because of their responses to the ongoing standoff between the league and China. After an executive bill signing Wednesday, Mr. Trump responded to a question about China applying pressure to the NBA and went directly after Kerr, the Golden State Warriors coach. "I watch this guy Steve Kerr," Mr. Trump said. "He was shaking "Oh, I don't know, I don't know." From gun control to immigration, Kerr and Popovich are typically outspoken about social issues in the United States.

NBA players may be protecting their brand by choosing to stay silent about the league's controversy with China, former All-Star Jamal Mashburn told CNBC on Thursday. The basketball players understand the economic consequences of speaking out on political issues, Mashburn said in an interview with "Fast Money." Mashburn, a former All-Star who retired in 2006, shared similar remarks, speaking on players thinking about life after they leave the basketball court for good. "They really understand there's a really huge market in China for basketball fans," Mashburn said. Mashburn said players could eventually speak out once they process the political issue a bit or get more direction from Adam Silver, the commissioner of the NBA.

Laurent Fievet | AFP | Getty ImagesThree major U.S. businesses angered China this week, and found themselves in hot water over episodes related to the Hong Kong anti-government protests. In a post-match interview on the Taiwanese stream of Blizzard Entertainment game "Hearthstone", Chung "Blitzchung" Ng Wai wore a gas mask and goggles, and appeared to shout a slogan often associated with Hong Kong protesters: "Liberate Hong Kong, revolution of our time." AppleApple was also caught in the crosshairs of Chinese state media this week. The tech giant was criticized for a mapping app in its app store that allowed Hong Kong protesters to track the movement of police. Nobody wants to drag Apple into the lingering unrest in Hong Kong," the People's Daily said.

A little after the signs were taken away, I stood in my seat and chanted "Free Hong Kong" until security escorted us out." Wachs, who lived and worked in Hong Kong in his 20s, said protesters there "are seeking to preserve their democracy." "There is nothing controversial about the Hong Kong protesters demands," he said. Earlier this week, Daryl Morey, the general manager of the Houston Rockets, tweeted his support for the demonstrations in Hong Kong. His post, which has since been deleted, included an image that read, "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong."

CNN image(CNN) - All of the NBA's official Chinese partners have suspended ties with the league as it grapples with the fallout from a team manager's controversial tweet about Hong Kong. The firestorm began over the weekend, when Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted his support for the pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. His post, which has since been deleted, included an image that read, "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong." NBA China also lists two partners that are joint ventures between Chinese and international companies on its website. On Wednesday, Clear, a haircare brand owned by consumer goods giant Unilever, said it would suspend all ties with the NBA in China.

The NBA and Commissioner Adam Silver were initially criticized in the U.S. for not forcefully defending Morey's right to free speech. Wednesday's press conferences had been widely publicized inside China, where many were eager to hear what Lakers forward LeBron James had to say about the furor. The Lakers and the Nets are in China to play two preseason games and participate in several events with fans and the community. A Nets community event Tuesday and NBA fan night Wednesday were also canceled. Today, there are more NBA fans in China than in the US.

Feng Li/Getty ImagesCHANGCHUN, China - A 25-year-old Houston Rockets fan in China threatened to burn the Chinese flag in protest of the ongoing dispute between Beijing and the NBA team, and told police to "come and arrest him." Wang was arrested shortly afterward and the case is being investigated, local police said in a statement. It is illegal to desecrate the flag in China and offenders can face up to 3 years in prison. The Rockets have been arguably the most popular NBA franchise in China since the team drafted Chinese superstar Yao Ming in 2002. Silver's response drew the ire of Chinese authorities and many angry citizens who said they would no longer support the Rockets.

President Donald Trump criticized NBA coaches for what he called "pandering" to China on Wednesday even as he declined to take a stance on the sports league's dispute with Beijing. The NBA's they know what they're doing," Trump told reporters in his first public comments about the issue when asked about it by CNBC. A spokesman for the NBA did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the president's remarks. Trump specifically accused Kerr and Popovich of hypocrisy in their reactions to the dispute with China because they have often criticized the president's domestic policies. He claimed Kerr "was like a scared little boy" when he responded to a question about China on Monday.

The NBA , embroiled in a rift caused by a tweet expressing support for pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong, has avoided going that route for now. "And that's exactly what Americans and NBA fans don't want to see their commissioner say," Dees added. But the only true apology so far came from Rockets star James Harden, the 2017-18 NBA MVP who tried to fix things by insisting, "We love China." If China does not broadcast games, this is a major financial problem for the NBA. "As to what the NBA should say and do next, I believe it knows better than anyone else," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said.

A fan was ejected from a Philadelphia 76ers preseason game on Tuesday after holding signs and shouting support for Hong Kong during the game against the Guangzhou Loong Lions, a squad from China. Sam Wachs said he and his wife were silently holding signs that said "Free Hong Kong" during the game at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. "Got kicked out of the Philadelphia 76ers game against Guangzhou tonight for bringing these / chanting my support of Hong Kong," Wachs posted on Facebook on Tuesday night. Here's the statement from the Wells Fargo Center:During the second quarter of last night's 76ers game, Wells Fargo Center security responded to a situation that was disrupting the live event experience for our guests. Ultimately, the decision was made by Wells Fargo Center personnel to remove the guests from the premises, which was accomplished without incident.

The NBA's initial response to the controversy in China demonstrates the lack of preparedness of many U.S. businesses that operate in the country, Dartmouth College's Paul Argenti told CNBC on Wednesday. "That's more than most companies would do, but you could see they were trying to thread that needle not really offend China, not really support [Morey]," said Argenti, a professor of corporate communication. But China's repressive regime from media censorship to human rights abuses presents challenges to businesses operating there, some argue. But in this situation, the NBA is different than some other American companies who operate in China, Argenti said. "It's clearly important for companies to really understand that just the sheer amount of consumerism taking place in China represents a big opportunity," Jackson said.

(CNN) - China won't broadcast or stream NBA preseason games held in the country. Tencent, the NBA's exclusive digital partner in China, also said it would suspend live streaming for NBA preseason games in China. The controversy began when Morey tweeted his support for the demonstrations in Hong Kong over the weekend. His post, which has since been deleted, included an image that read, "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong." In its decision Tuesday to halt NBA broadcasts, CCTV pointed to "the response of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver in Japan."

The creators of "South Park" have offered a fake apology to China on Monday after the country reportedly censored the popular television show. The episode "Band in China" tackles the way Hollywood often tailors its content to avoid offending Chinese censors. According to the Hollywood Reporter, a search of the social media company Weibo brings up no mention of South Park in "billions of past posts." South Park joins another beloved animated show that's been banned - Winnie the Pooh. The Chinese name for Winnie the Pooh (Little Bear Winnie) was blocked on Chinese social media sites because bloggers have been comparing the plump bear to China's President Xi Jinping.

Silver and the NBA came to Morey's defense but tried to keep the league's stance neutral. "We're better than this; human rights shouldn't be for sale & the NBA shouldn't be assisting Chinese communist censorship," said Cruz in a tweet. Were better than this; human rights shouldnt be for sale & the NBA shouldnt be assisting Chinese communist censorship. "We are strongly dissatisfied and opposed Adam (Silver)'s claim to support Morey's rights of free expression. Silver said the NBA would continue to protect NBA employees' right to voice their opinions, regardless of consequences.

It is highly unlikely that a comprehensive U.S.-China trade deal emerges from this week's negotiations, analysts told CNBC on Tuesday. Chinese trade officials are scheduled to be in Washington on Thursday to rekindle high-level trade negotiations. "For the first time, politics, rather than just economics, are front and center in the trade discussion," said Moon, president of consulting group China Moon Strategies. "It's both the NBA discussion and the discussion about sanctions on Chinese companies doing business in Xinjiang." This is something different, and it is going to complicate the trade discussions," Moon added.

Silver called CCTV's decision "unfortunate" and apologized for offending the league's Chinese fans. Tencent has been the digital media partner of the NBA in China since 2009. China's largest online shopping sites owned by giants Alibaba and JD.com appear to have removed items related to the Houston Rockets. The association is chaired by Yao Ming, a Chinese NBA star who was formerly with the Rockets, and is credited with helping the game expand in China. I accept that we have a difference of opinion," Silver said, adding that "tolerance" is one of the league's core values.

Searches in Chinese for "Houston Rockets" and "Rockets" on Alibaba-owned Taobao and Tmall and its rival JD.com yielded no results, highlighting the potential financial fallout the Rockets could face. Still, it drew sharp criticism from the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston and the Chinese Basketball Association. CBA also canceled four games scheduled for 19-20 October in Suzhou, China, which included some Rockets matches. Alibaba co-founder weighs inJoseph Tsai, the owner of the Brooklyn Nets NBA team as well as a co-founder at e-commerce giant Alibaba, also slammed Morey. Chinese state broadcaster CCTV also said it would stop showing Houston Rockets games.

Chinese state-run television network CCTV said it was suspending the current broadcast arrangements for the NBA's preseason games in China. Tencent, which owns the digital streaming rights for NBA in China, said it would also "temporarily suspend" the preseason broadcast arrangements. It follows a tweet made by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey in which he showed support for the anti-government protests in Hong Kong. The tweet, which was later deleted, drew strong criticism in the world's second-largest economy. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended Morey.

Scott Halleran/Getty ImagesHOUSTON - Several Chinese businesses are suspending ties with the Houston Rockets after the American basketball team's general manager expressed support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests. CCTV 5, the sports channel of China's top state broadcaster, announced that it would suspend airing Houston Rockets events on television. And Tencent Sports said it would suspend live streaming for Houston Rockets games, as well as news about the team. Sponsors distanced themselves from the Houston Rockets as well. "I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China," Morey said.

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tried Sunday to defuse the rapidly growing international 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. Morey apologized on Twitter over a now-deleted tweet that spoke in support of the Hong Kong protests, after his remarks were attacked by the Chinese Consulate-General in Houston and the Chinese Basketball Association. "I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China," he added. Stand with Hong Kong." His apology had drawn more than a thousand replies as of 10 a.m. Monday Hong Kong time (10 p.m. Sunday ET), most of them urging him not to apologize.