‘We love China’: Rockets’ James Harden ‘sorry’ over GM’s Hong Kong tweet
- NBA team go into defensive mode after China’s state broadcaster said they were yanking Rockets games from the air and sponsors abandoned them
- Last year’s MVP winner made his second apology to China inside four months after getting pulled over by police while riding a scooter illegally
Houston Rockets star James Harden on Monday apologised to China over a tweet by the team’s general manager backing Hong Kong’s democracy protests that cost the franchise TV exposure and sponsorship in the lucrative Chinese market.
The team and the NBA were forced into defensive mode as China’s state broadcaster said it was yanking Rockets games from the air and sponsors abandoned them.
The controversy quickly spread across the Pacific, as commentators and even a presidential candidate rounded on the league for kowtowing to authoritarian Beijing.
In Tokyo, where the team is playing two exhibition matches this week, Harden distanced himself from the controversy.
“We apologise. We love China,” he said, standing alongside fellow Rockets guard Russell Westbrook.
“We love playing there. Both of us, we go there once or twice a year. They show us most support so we appreciate them.”
It was the second time Harden had to apologise to China after last year’s NBA MVP winner took to Weibo to say sorry for riding his scooter in Shanghai without a licence and a helmet in June on a promotional tour.