Daryl Morey shared a since-deleted photo that said, “Fight for Freedom. Stand with Hong Kong,” referencing the ongoing protests in the region. On Sunday, he clarified in a series of tweets, “I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives.” (New York Times)

Talking point: The Rockets have lost several high-profile partnerships as a result of Morey’s tweet, including with the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA), which said Sunday it was ending its relationship with the team. NBA partner Tencent Holdings, which streams the league’s games in China thanks to a deal worth a reported US$1.5 billion, said Sunday it will no longer carry Rockets games. The league issued a Chinese-language statement in the country saying it was “extremely disappointed in the inappropriate comment.” Its tone differed from its U.S. statement, where spokesperson Mike Bass said though Morey made clear his views didn’t represent those of the team or the league, “the values of the league support individuals’ educating themselves and sharing their views on matters important to them.” China is among the largest markets for the NBA outside of the U.S. Tencent reported 490 million viewers last year, with 21 million people watching Game 6 of the 2019 finals. In comparison, 18.34 million people watched the game on ABC, according to Nielsen.