NBA China crisis: protesters show support for Hong Kong at Wizards game, fans ejected from arena at Philadelphia 76ers against Guangzhou

Activists from Freedom House and Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation attend game against Chinese team in Washington

Fans at Philadelphia 76ers game against Guangzhou are ejected from arena by security after holding signs and chanting

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Activists hold up a sign before an NBA exhibition game between the Washington Wizards and the Guangzhou Loong-Lions. Photo: AP

Published: 1:20pm, 10 Oct 2019Updated: 9:55pm, 10 Oct 2019

Protesters handed out T-shirts and held up signs in support of Hong Kong on Wednesday night when the Washington Wizards hosted a team from the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

The Wizards beat the Guangzhou Long-Lions (also known as the Loong Lions) 137-98 in a game that saw more than half a dozen protests inside the Capital One Arena over the NBA’s ongoing rift with the Chinese government.

Protesters handed out “Free Hong Kong” T-shirts on the street outside the arena before the exhibition game. The protesters, who said they were from Freedom House, held up signs reading, “Shame the NBA,” “South Park was right” and “Memo to the NBA: Principles over profit! No censorship! USA loves Hong Kong”.

The problems between the NBA and China began after the Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted a tweet last week that showed support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.

The NBA apologised for Morey’s remarks, calling them “regrettable”.

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