If you’re wondering why the NBA has been more vocal against Russia than communist China, it’s simple: The NBA doesn’t want to upset China. Marc Lasry, an owner of the Milwaukee Bucks, said as much in no uncertain terms.
In a audio leak that was played of Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight, ahead of an interview with Enes Kanter Freedom, a former NBA player and longtime critic of the league’s relationship with China.
Lasry said that complaints about China from the NBA and its players would lead to the country cutting its business ties with the NBA.
EXPOSED!!
The @NBA, @TheNBPA & everyone who has been part of this propaganda has been lying to you all along.
This is the evidence of how corrupt the #NBA is, the fake social justice virtue signaling.
Wake up America!
This is the league you have been watching & supporting. pic.twitter.com/6ea1Anmibl
— Enes FREEDOM (@EnesFreedom) July 21, 2022
“China has taken a very aggressive stance, which is ‘hey, you want to b***h about us, you’re out’ Right? Which is — I get it. There’s nothing…it’s business. So their view is, look, you want to be in our country, you wanna do things, if you’re gonna complain about us, you’re not allowed. So what happens for the NBA is the NBA’s in a box.”
After hearing the audio of Lasry, Kanter Freedom slammed the NBA for their dealings with the Chinese government.
“The corrupt NBA finally got exposed. This is the evidence of how, 100%, an American made company is run by the Chinese dicatorship.”
Kanter Freedom played with the Boston Celtics during the 2021-22 season but was released in February believes he is being blackballed by the league for speaking up. He felt that his political stances were the reason why, a claim NBA commissioner Adam Silver denied.
In his interview with Carlson, though, Kanter Freedom made it known that he is going to keep working to get back into the NBA.
“They will care about social justice until it affects their money and business. The NBA pretends to care about social justice in America. But when that affects their business, they’re silent,” Kanter Freedom said. “Any player that goes out and says anything about it, they’re going to do anything to silence you. I’m 30 years old and they’re pushing me to retire at the age of 30 and I am not retiring. I’m going to fight until I can get back into that league again and keep exposing them.”
In October, 2019, then Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey supported Hong Kong protesers in a tweet. That prompted the China to stop broadcasting NBA preseason games. Silver also acknowledged at the time that China wanted Morey fired, though that did not happen. He remained in Houston until October, 2020, when he resigned just before becoming president of basketball operations for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The NBA and several of its owners have $10 billion invested in China.
