James Harden, the prominent Philadelphia 76ers basketball star, stirred up a media frenzy during a commercial event he attended in Beijing. In a candid revelation, he twice emphasized, “Daryl Morey is a liar and I will never be a part of an organization that he’s a part of.”
According to reports from NBA.com, this intense assertion was Harden’s response to a question raised about trade talks, a topic that had been simmering for over six weeks. Harden had made it clear he favored moving to the Los Angeles Clippers. Unfortunately, the desired transition seemed to stall, leading to his frustrations.
While the outburst in itself was headline-worthy, the location of this admission—Beijing—magnified its significance. The moment was captured in a video that skyrocketed in popularity on Douyin, China’s premier video sharing platform. The immediate reactions in the video showcased fans rallying behind Harden, with audible cheers and applause echoing his sentiments.
On China’s leading social media platform, Sina Weibo, the topic exploded. By Tuesday afternoon, the hashtag related to Harden’s comments about Morey had accumulated over 15 million views. Among the various posts, a popular sentiment emerged. One user pointedly wrote, “Why did he choose to voice these thoughts in China? Perhaps he was confident in receiving unanimous support here.” Accompanying this message was a poignant image of fans draped in the national flag of China, expressing their vehement disapproval of Morey through banners.
The history between Morey and Chinese basketball enthusiasts traces back to an incident in 2019. Then, Morey, serving as the general manager of the NBA franchise Houston Rockets (where Harden was a player), made a tweet supporting a slogan linked to Hong Kong activists. This single tweet set off a maelstrom of reactions from the Chinese community, with many perceiving it as insensitive and misinformed.
Despite Morey’s swift deletion of the controversial post and his subsequent apology, the damage was done. A widespread outrage ensued, notably affecting the Rockets’ expansive Chinese fanbase. This incident further led to a series of business repercussions. Most notably, NBA games faced a hiatus on China Central Television (CCTV) for over a year.
Amid this backdrop, Harden’s recent trip to Beijing was underlined by more than just his controversial statement. Demonstrating his commitment to building bridges and fostering mutual respect, he actively participated in a training session designed for students from a local high school. At the close of the event, Harden was swamped by a sea of young fans, all eager to capture a memory with the basketball icon through photos and autographs. Through all the ups and downs, Harden’s dedication to the sport and his fans remains unmistakable.
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