Should the NBA stand up to China?

Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey posted — then quickly deleted — a tweet expressing solidarity with protesters in Hong Kong who are opposed to the Chinese government. The tweet prompted a strong backlash in mainland China, at the same time the NBA was holding preseason events in the country. Some festivities were canceled and several Chinese businesses have said they’re suspending their relationships with the Rockets. Morey apologized for the tweet, as did Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta and star player James Harden. The NBA has come under criticism for allowing an authoritarian government to impose censorship on its players and executives in the interest of protecting its bottom line.