Houston Rockets GM apologizes on social media after tweeting support for Hong Kong protests
SHOWS:
INTERNET (OCTOBER 7, 2019) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - ACCESS ALL)
1. STILL IMAGE FROM HOUSTON ROCKETS GENERAL MANAGER DARYL MOREY'S TWITTER PAGE SAYING:
"I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought. based on one interpretation. of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider different perspectives."
2. STILL IMAGE FROM HOUSTON ROCKETS GENERAL MANAGER DARYL MOREY'S TWITTER PAGE SAYING:
"I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. My tweets are my own and in no way represent the Rockets or the NBA."
SHANGHAI, CHINA (FILE - OCTOBER 8, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
3. VARIOUS OF HOUSTON ROCKETS TEAM TRAINING SESSION - ROCKETS PLAYER JAMES HARDEN TAKING SHOTS (TEAM WAS IN CHINA FOR TWO NBA PRESEASON GAMES AGAINST NEW ORLEANS PELICANS)
4. ROCKETS PLAYER TREVOR ARIZA TAKING SHOT
5. ROCKETS HEAD COACH MIKE D'ANTONI AT TRAINING SESSION
6. FORMER ROCKETS PLAYER YAO MING SPEAKING AT NBA CLINIC TO TEACH BASKETBALL TO KIDS
7. WIDE OF ROCKETS PLAYERS AND KIDS AT EVENT
8. ROCKETS PLAYER HARDEN SHOWING KIDS HOW TO SHOOT BASKETS
9. WIDE OF ROCKETS PLAYERS AND KIDS AT EVENT
BEIJING, CHINA (FILE - OCTOBER 11, 2016) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
10. VARIOUS OF KIDS PRACTICING BASKETBALL DRILLS WITH NEW ORLEANS PELICANS TEAM AT NBA EVENT
11. CHILDREN AND PELICANS PLAYERS GROUPED TOGETHER FOR PHOTO AND SAYING 'NBA'
HOUSTON, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (FILE - DECEMBER 22, 2018) (STILL PHOTO-MUTE) (USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES - Broadcaster and Digital: MUST COURTESY 'USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES')
12. STILL PHOTO OF HOUSTON ROCKETS GENERAL MANAGER DARYL MOREY ON COURT AT TOYOTA CENTER BEFORE START OF NBA GAME AGAINST SAN ANTONIO SPURS
STORY: The general manager of the Houston Rockets basketball team apologized on Monday (October 07) for a tweet in support of Hong Kong protests, saying he did not intend to offend fans of the NBA team in China.
"I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation on a complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives," Daryl Morey said in a tweet.
"I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will know that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention," he said, adding that his tweets did not represent the Rockets or NBA.
The team's Chinese sponsor and a Chinese sportswear maker suspended work with the Rockets after Morey's tweet over the weekend.
Morey quickly deleted the tweet, which included an image captioned: "Fight For Freedom. Stand With Hong Kong."
In a separate statement, the NBA said it recognized Morey's views have "deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is regrettable."
(Production: David Grip)
