Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James criticized Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey on Monday, calling him “misinformed” about the ramifications of his now infamous Hong Kong tweet.
Prior to the Lakers’ home preseason game Monday versus the Golden State Warriors, James said this when asked whether Morey should have been reprimanded for his actions:
We all talk about this freedom of speech. Yes, we all do have freedom of speech, but at times there are ramifications for the negative that can happen when you’re not thinking about others, and you’re only thinking about yourself. I don’t want to get into a word or sentence feud with Daryl Morey, but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand, and he spoke. And so many people could have been harmed, not only financially, but physically. Emotionally. Spiritually.
Neither the NBA nor the Rockets disciplined Morey for his comments, with league commissioner Adam Silver making it clear that he supports Morey’s rights to freedom of expression.
James later clarified that the “misinformed” label was in reference to the ramifications of Morey’s tweet, rather than the actual situation in Hong Kong that Morey was addressing.
Despite the “only thinking about yourself” accusation from James, Morey’s tweet was solely in reference to Hong Kong, rather than anything to do with his own personal situation. Morey was with the Rockets in Japan at the time of the tweet and lives in Houston.
James’ comments about Morey and the fallout from China were subsequently met with widespread criticism on Twitter, including this by Republican U.S. Senator Rick Scott from Florida:
Many other politicians from both prominent U.S. political parties — Republican and Democrat — spoke out last week on the issue, largely in support of Morey’s rights to personal expression.
In all, the fallout could cost the Rockets between $10 million and $25 million due to the backlash, according to a Houston Chronicle report. Other NBA teams are also feeling effects, including James’ Lakers, who played a pair of preseason games in China last week. It is unclear what the financial impact for other teams and players might be.
Rockets’ players and coaches downplayed the controversy upon arriving back in the United States this week, saying they’re focused exclusively on basketball and the season ahead. Houston’s regular season starts next week on Thursday, Oct. 24 versus Milwaukee.
The first game between the Rockets and James’ Lakers occurs on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Toyota Center in Houston.
