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Jonathan White

Former Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey, the man whose tweet supporting Hong Kong’s anti-government protesters last year soured relations between the NBA and China, has thanked his former team in a full-page advertisement in the Houston Chronicle newspaper.
Morey, who spent 13 seasons at the Texas side, took out the ad in Sunday’s edition.
NBA’s China row explainer: what is at stake and how did we get here?
He paid special praise to the team’s star player James Harden: “James Harden changed my life,” he wrote in bold letters. The advertisement also featured a photograph of Morey and Harden when the player signed for Houston in 2012.
Morey shared an image of the newspaper page on his Twitter account with the message, “Thank You” and a rocket emoji.

Thank You pic.twitter.com/oMlRwq2z8i
— Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 18, 2020

In the open letter, Morey also thanked Rockets fans and the city of Houston.
“Your support has kept me energised and inspired. You have been the driving force to our success. I am honoured to have been a part of your story,” he wrote, but reserved much of his praise for the 2018 NBA MVP.




Chinese NBA fans react after controversial Rockets’ chief quits
“An entire page could be dedicated just to James. He not only transformed my life but also revolutionised the game of basketball – and continues to do so – like almost no one has before.
“The game is played differently because of James, and on every playground in the world, the next generation of talent is studying and imitating his game.”
Morey was responsible for Harden arriving in Houston ahead of the NBA’s 2012-13 season, which ended with the Rockets reaching the play-offs.

Harden – who is an eight time NBA All-Star – has taken them to the postseason every year since, including this year when the Rockets lost to the Los Angeles Lakers.
That series was not shown on Chinese television as part of CCTV’s NBA blackout following Morey’s tweet in October, 2019. The NBA returned to terrestrial screens in time for the Lakers to win the championship.
NBA returns to Chinese state TV a year after Hong Kong controversy
“I can’t believe I won’t be able to have another strategy session with James,” Morey continued. “I loved working together on how to get his incredible Hall of Fame teammates Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook to the Rockets.
“I will be rooting for James to win a championship in Houston. It’s how this story should end.”
Many Chinese basketball fans responded to Morey’s resignation with glee on social media, speculating that his decision was related to CCTV bringing the NBA back to screens.


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NBA (National Basketball Association)

NBA-China: ex-Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey says ‘James Harden changed my life’

Houston Rockets guard James Harden passes against the Charlotte Hornets during an NBA basketball game. Photo: AP

FILE - This is a July 26, 2019, file photo showing Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey during an NBA basketball news conference in Houston. Rockets general manager Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Thursday, Oct. 15, 2020, because the move hasn’t been announced. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

Hong Kong-tweeting NBA Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey steps down

Daryl Morey is stepping down on his own accord, a person familiar with the decision said. Photo: AP

FILE - In this file photo taken Oct. 15, 2019, demonstrators hold up signs in support of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey during a rally at the Southorn Playground in Hong Kong. CCTV announced Friday, Oct. 9, 2020 that it would air Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat — the first time that the league would appear on the network since the rift that started when Morey tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

With Houston Rockets’ Daryl Morey finally out of the picture, China and NBA can safely fall back in love again

Will NBA posters – and teams – be returning to Chinese cities again soon? Photo: AP

FILE - In this April 19, 2011, file photo, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey discusses the direction of the team with the media during a basketball news conference, in Houston, after the decision to part ways with NBA basketball head coach Rick Adelman. Morey tried Sunday, Oct. 6, 2019 to defuse the rapidly growing fallout over his deleted tweet that showed support for Hong Kong anti-government protesters, saying he did not intend to offend any of the team's Chinese fans or sponsors. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during a welcome reception for the NBA Japan Games 2019 between the Toronto Raptors and the Houston Rockets in Tokyo, Japan, Monday, Oct. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato)

NBA: Chinese basketball fans delighted after Hong Kong-tweeting Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey quits

Fans in Shenzhen reach out to players after the NBA preseason game between the LA Lakers and Brooklyn Nets in the Guangdong on October 12, 2019. Photo: AFP

Employees watch a live broadcast of Game 5 of the NBA Finals at an NBA store in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. The NBA is returning to Chinese state television after a one-year absence. CCTV announced Friday that it would air Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat — the first time that the league would appear on the network since the rift that started when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for anti-government protesters in Hong Kong. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

NBA-China Daryl Morey feud back from coronavirus timeout, just in time for league restart

A Chinese national flag is held at the preseason NBA game at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai. Photo: AP

NBA China crisis: LeBron James’ ‘uneducated’ Daryl Morey stance and Twitter clarification reignite Houston Rockets row

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James during their NBA China Games trip to Shanghai and Shenzhen. Photo: AFP

Sport

China

Basketball

Departing NBA executive, whose Hong Kong tweet kicked off a firestorm with China last year, takes out full-page newspaper ad
Also thanks fans of the team and the city of Houston as hopes for Harden to win an NBA championship


Departing NBA executive, whose Hong Kong tweet kicked off a firestorm with China last year, takes out full-page newspaper ad to thank Harden and Houston.


US-China relations

Hong Kong protests

James Harden