It's been a hectic couple of days for the NBA in light of Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey's tweetsupporting the protests in Hong Kong.
On Monday night, LeBron James spoke to reporters about the fallout from Morey's tweet while at Staples Center prior to a game between the Lakers and Warriors.
"I don’t want to get into a [...] feud with Daryl Morey but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand and he spoke," James said. "So many people could have been harmed not only financially but physically, emotionally, spiritually. So, just be careful what we tweet and what we say and what we do, even though yes we do have freedom of speech but it can be a lot of negative that comes with that, too."
When asked about "the political noise," James said it "a very delicate situation, a very sensitive situation." He continued: "With this particular situation it was something not only was I not informed enough about... I just felt like it was something that not only myself and my teammates or our organization had enough information to even talk about it at that point in time and we still feel the same way."
LeBron James on how he felt the NBA handled the situation in China and why he didn’t speak out pic.twitter.com/6DYCAs96IW
Lakers’ LeBron James on NBA’s China controversy: “I don’t want to get into a ... feud with Daryl Morey but I believe he wasn’t educated on the situation at hand and he spoke.” pic.twitter.com/KKrMNU0dKR
“I believe he was misinformed and not educated on the situation,” LeBron James said on the Morey tweet. LeBron added Morey’s tweet was dangerous. LeBron said he is uncertain about the future ramifications of the Morey tweet with the NBA and players.
LeBron James was referring to the ramifications of Daryl Morey’s tweet on China and the events it unleashed when the Lakers star said the Rockets GM was misinformed, a source told @TheUndefeated.
James later took to Twitter to "clear up the confusion." The Lakers player wrote that he does "not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet."
Let me clear up the confusion. I do not believe there was any consideration for the consequences and ramifications of the tweet. I’m not discussing the substance. Others can talk About that.
My team and this league just went through a difficult week. I think people need to understand what a tweet or statement can do to others. And I believe nobody stopped and considered what would happen. Could have waited a week to send it.
Prior to James' comments, The Athletic reported that players held a meeting to talk about the situation.
In the middle of the NBA/China controversy, commissioner Adam Silver met with the Lakers and Nets. LeBron James had a clear message for everyone in the room, followed by a players-only meeting. NBA Insider @ShamsCharania with the behind the scenes story⬇️https://t.co/gQ8b6f5UEx pic.twitter.com/nIyvofOlFS
