Adam Silver said Yao Ming disagreed with the NBA's response to Daryl Morey's Hong Kong tweet: 'He is extremely hot at the moment'

In October 2019, Daryl Morey, then GM of the Houston Rockets, posted on social media supporting Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, stating, "Fight for Freedom - Stand with Hong Kong" on X (formerly Twitter).

While many people supported Morey's stance, others, including Yao Ming, the chair of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), were unhappy about it. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver revealed this, also noting that he and Ming had differing views on how the situation was handled.

"He (Ming) is extremely hot at the moment, and I understand it", Silver said, later adding, "I am not sure he quite accepts how we are operating our business right now, and I accept that we have a difference of opinion."

When basketball and politics collide

A few months earlier, a bill had sparked protests in Hong Kong. Repealed in October of that year, it would have allowed the extradition of criminals to mainland China, where the Communist Party controlled the courts. Initially targeting the pro-Beijing government under Carrie Lam, the protests became widespread.

Morey aimed to express his stance in the post, but this had significant repercussions. For example, Chinese television canceled plans to air two NBA preseason games, which were to be held in the country.

The controversial tweet also led to the CBA suspending its relationship with the Rockets. Rumors suggested some Chinese officials, possibly including Ming, demanded an apology from the 47-year-old and Silver reprimanded him.

It followed even more backlash…

The league administration's decision not to take any of the aforementioned actions didn't need a detailed explanation.

"At the end of the day I am an American and there are these values that are deeply rooted in the DNA of the NBA, and that includes freedom of expression for our employees," Silver stated at the time.

Still, for Hall of Fame center Ming, the fact that Morey had indirectly criticized his homeland without any apparent repercussion was highly upsetting. Since the Houston franchise had drafted him as the top pick in 2002, he became the best-ever Chinese basketball player, consequently building a massive fan base back home. This popularity significantly boosted the NBA's, especially the Rockets', following in Asia.

Ultimately, a few days after Morey's post, both he and the league administration issued separate statements addressing the situation. The Wisconsin native clarified that he never meant to offend anyone, while the NBA expressed "regret" over the incident. However, those actions led to even more backlash.

Some critics suggested that these statements showed the league yielding to the economic benefits it typically gains from that region, effectively compromising its "American values." Additionally, many believed it was inappropriate for Morey to justify himself, as he was merely sharing his opinion on a political issue as a private citizen.