- Title: Chinese fans miffed at NBA, but not enough to skip game
- Date: 12th October 2019
- Summary: SHENZHEN, GUANGDONG PROVINCE, CHINA (OCTOBER 12, 2019) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING BANNER READING "NBA GET OUT OF CHINA" BEING TAKEN FROM THEM BY POLICE DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING POSTER READING (English): "MOREY MUST APOLOGIZE TO CHINA. ONE CHINA, NO VIOLENCE" DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING BANNERS AND POSTERS OUTSIDE STADIUM AS POLICE STANDING DEMONSTRATOR HOLDING BANNER READING (English): "ONE CHINA, TWO SYSTEMS" DEMONSTRATORS STANDING AS POLICE ASKING REPORTERS TO LEAVE FANS ARRIVING AT STADIUM POLICE VAN OUTSIDE STADIUM 8 (SOUNDBITE）(Mandarin) 25-YEAR-OLD NBA FAN, MR. NING, SAYING: "I was an NBA fan but because of Morey's tweet, now I think it doesn't matter whether we watch the game or not. We Chinese can't be bullied, there is only one China."
- Embargoed: 26th October 2019 14:51
- Keywords: China NBA Los Angeles Lakers Brooklyn Nets
- Location: SHENZHEN, CHINA
- City: SHENZHEN, CHINA
- Country: China
- Topics: Basketball,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001B0SI0QV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Thousands of Chinese basketball fans cheered on the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets at an NBA exhibition game in the city of Shenzhen on Saturday (October 12) night - but some warned the organisation to stay out of politics.
Daryl Morey, general manager of another team, the Houston Rockets, voiced support for pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong in a tweet last week, prompting Chinese sponsors and partners to cut ties with the NBA.
China is estimated to be worth more than $4 billion for the NBA, so the stakes are high.
Outside the arena on Saturday, some protesters waved Chinese flags and others held admonitory red signs.
One man with a sign in Chinese saying "NBA get out of China" had it ripped up by police.
China has accused the West of stirring up anti-Beijing sentiment in Hong Kong, where large and at times violent anti-government protesters have gained momentum over the past four months.
State media characterised Morey's tweet - which read "Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong" - as meddling in China's affairs. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver defended the principle of free speech on Tuesday, further angering Beijing.
(Production: Joyce Zhou) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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