China Cuts Ties with Houston Rockets Over General Manager's Hong Kong Tweet.
ANDERSON: Half a billion, that is the number of people in China who tuned in to at least one NBA game last season, close to half the population. It is fair to say that China is a country mad about U.S. basketball. But a move by the manager of one NBA team has Chinese basketball fans mad for other reasons. The country's basketball association says it has severed ties with the Houston Rockets after their general manager Daryl Morey tweeted support for the Hong Kong protesters on Friday. CNN's David Culver has more on the story from the basketball courts of Beijing.</s>DAVID CULVER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): China's passion for basketball can be seen in a neighborly game of pick-up. When he's not shooting hoops with his friends in Beijing, 15-year-old Erik Qu is closely following the</s>NBA. ERIK QU, BASKETBALL FAN: Toronto Raptors.</s>CULVER: The Toronto Raptors.</s>QU: Yes.</s>CULVER: They're your favorite?</s>QU: They win the championship.</s>CULVER (voice-over): But a team that's no longer on his preferred watch list, the Houston Rockets. Because of a now deleted tweet sent out Friday by team general manager, Daryl Morey. The Rockets' GM tweeting a photo that read, fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong. Referring to the month's long democracy protests under way in Hong Kong. Protests that have embarrassed and angered China's government. Over the weekend Morey's tweet unleashed a strong response in mainland China. The Chinese Basketball Association severing ties with the Rockets. CCTV, the Chinese state-run broadcaster, no longer planning to air upcoming games. And the Chinese tech giant, Tencent, suspending its deal to live stream Rockets games. The reaction led to an apology my Morey tweeting in part, I have always appreciated the significant support our Chinese fans and sponsors have provided and I would hope that those who are upset will note, that offending or misunderstanding them was not my intention. CNN was in Tokyo as the Rockets hit the court Monday. Rockets guard, James Harden echoing his GM's apology.</s>JAMES HARDEN, HUSTON ROCKETS BASKETBALL PLAYER: You know, we love China. We love playing there. I know for both of us individually, we go there, you know, once or twice a year. They show us the most important love. So we appreciate them as a fan base.</s>CULVER: The NBA acknowledging Morey's tweet deeply offended many in China and called it regrettable. But that has lawmakers on both sides upset. Republican Senator Ted Cruz tweeting, human rights shouldn't be for sale and the NBA shouldn't be assisting Chinese Communist censorship. Democratic Congressman Tom Malinowski called the NBA's response shameful. Back on the streets of Beijing, Erik and his friends trying to see past the off-court drama. (on camera): Does it make you think differently about the Rockets.</s>QU: Just OK. I didn't change my opinion. I still like Harden and -- but maybe I won't watch them too often.</s>CULVER: Basketball has been a big deal in China for decades. But their love for the sport really intensified in 2002 when Yao Ming, one of their own, signed with an NBA team, the Houston Rockets. Yao today is the President of the Chinese Basketball Association. The same association that severed ties with the Rockets, his former team. David Culver, CNN, Beijing.</s>ANDERSON: Well "WORLD SPORT" up next. And Rhiannon, this is a big deal not the least because China of course is part of the NBA's global games initiative, right?</s>RHIANNON JONES, WORLD SPORTS: Precisely, Becky. Six of the nine NBA preseason games this season are in Asia with teams playing in China as soon as this week. A particularly awkward timing for the league. And speaking of off grid. Another miserable weekend for some of the Premier League's top managers. More on that in just a moment.</s>ANDERSON: Yes, terrific. Short break, folks. You're watching CNN.