Chinese fans fume at NBA as fallout from free speech row spreads
NBA fans wait outside hotel in Shanghai
Basketball followers on mainland China expressed anger at the USNational Basketball Association on Wednesday after a fan event in Shanghai was canceled, amid arowoverfreespeechthat has hurt the league's reputation in a key overseas market.
Chineseorganisers scrapped the event on the eve of a planned exhibition game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, as thefalloutspreadfroma tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supporting recent protests in Hong Kong.
Pro-democracy demonstrators have taken to the streets of the city over fears that Beijing is undermining Hong Kong's "one country, two systems" formula, which gives residents greaterfreedom than mainlandChinese.
China has warned foreign governments to steer clear of the issue which they deem an "internal affair".
NBACommissioner Adam Silver said on Tuesday that the league supported Morey's right to exercise hisfreedom of expression, furthering angeringChineseauthorities.
"They (theNBA) have done something really stupid," said Bai Linfan, a 20-year-old fan in Shanghai. "This is something that is really about our nationality. That's the biggest thing. Cancelling these cooperations and exchanges is quite normal."
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Another young fan, Li Xintong, said theNBAneeded to do more to understand China's view on the matter.
"If the pre-season match is cancelled, I don't really care, because I think this thing has already violated our country's bottom line about a few issues," he said.
"If theNBAreally wants to expand in China's market, they must understandChineseculture."
The reaction to therowhas been very different in Hong Kong itself.
"I don't think he (Silver) is mixing up sports and politics. I think he was speaking as a UScitizen on this occasion. I'm really grateful for his support and the support of the majority of UScitizens," saidNBAfan Keith Yuen.
For one fan hoping to catch a glimpse of the players in Shanghai, sport and politics should not be mixed.
"I don't know why political conflicts affect sporting events. Just because they don't want us to see Morey's comments on TV, thefans' night has been cancelled," said Yu Jie.
"I'm patriotic of course. I support (the view) that Hong Kong is part of China, but I just don't understand this."