'Disgraceful': Outrage over 'inappropriate' response to reporter's question
The NBA hasn’t exactly covered itself in glory the past few weeks.
As part of the fallout from Houston Rockets general manager’s controversial tweet about the China-Hong Kong situation, the league has attempted to run damage control, knowing that China is a major source of revenue.
GM Daryl Morey tried to distance the Rockets from his tweet, James Harden apologised for Morey’s tweet and NBA boss Adam Silver tried to make both sides happy, saying Morey has a right to free speech while also saying the NBA shouldn’t “adjudicate” different viewpoints.
The situation got even more awkward Thursday when the Rockets shut down a question from CNN reporter Christina Macfarlane about the issue.
Macfarlane attempted to ask Harden and Russell Westbrook a question about whether they would be hesitant to speak out on any political issues after this whole fiasco.
But Rockets PR stepped in and told Macfarlane to ask “basketball questions only.”
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Macfarlane responds to that, saying, “It’s a legitimate question. This is an event that happened this week.”
Macfarlane then asked Harden for an answer, but didn’t get one. The camera cut to both Harden and Westbrook awkwardly looking around while they waited for another question.
The NBA issued a statement on the matter, saying the “team representative inappropriately interjected” to stop the question.
The league said that was “inconsistent with how the NBA conducts media events.”
A number of commentators and fans have slammed the NBA once again, describing their treatment of the question as ‘pathetic’ and ‘loathsome’.
COWARDS. Wow. https://t.co/ZIe0tmkSNj
— Jason Howerton (@jason_howerton) October 10, 2019
The silence of Harden and Westbrook in response to this important question is deafening -- and reflects very poorly on the NBA. https://t.co/QqT24Pqc64
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) October 10, 2019
This is just an awful look for the @NBA https://t.co/nI0MQqZAmL
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 10, 2019
Two great American athletes sitting with their heads down like shamed schoolboys while a western journalist has her microphone taken away. This is only going to get worse. https://t.co/N2S2VGTDCC
— Scary Whitta (@garywhitta) October 10, 2019
This is loathsome and cowardly. Does the NBA really think it can sustain radio silence on this? https://t.co/9FXbKZZpyc
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) October 10, 2019
pathetic https://t.co/mJXkaLWfnc
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) October 10, 2019
This is disgraceful https://t.co/esBpE3cuzL
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 10, 2019
Wow, this is chilling. The NBA minder shuts down CNN's question here and refuses to let the players answer it. Not only are they acting as China's censors for their employees, they're now bringing China's suppression of the critical press to our shores. https://t.co/2cYISBpIwU
— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) October 10, 2019
This is extremely disturbing. I love the NBA. I love basketball. But it might be time for a boycott.
— Tim Sullivan (@MrTimbo) October 10, 2019
Jesus Houston Rockets suckling up to Chinese interests. Disgusting. https://t.co/58H8Kl750S
— Bat Merger (@mattroiberger) October 10, 2019
Was the question out of order?
The question was both legitimate and potentially harmless. Macfarlane wasn’t even asking the players to comment specifically on China.
The question was about whether the players would hesitate to speak out on issues moving forward.
The NBA is viewed as a progressive league where players and coaches are allowed — and encouraged — to speak their minds on complex issues.
By not allowing the players to speak, the Rockets gave a definitive answer to Macfarlane’s question.
