The NBA.
29 of the world's best basketball teams,
and, also, the Knicks.
(laughter, groaning)
The regular season hasn't even kicked off yet,
but there's already been a ton of drama.
Now, if you haven't been keeping up,
last week, the general manager of the Houston Rockets
posted a tweet in support
of the pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong.
And the NBA quickly put out a statement distancing themselves
from that tweet.
What was funny about this, though,
was that the English version of the statement was very different
from what it was being translated to
for the Chinese Internet.
So, like, in English, the statement was basically like,
"Hey, China, we're sorry you're offended."
But then, the Mandarin was like, "Rest assured, China,
we will feed this man to the wolves."
But then, here in America, people were pissed
that the NBA was kowtowing to China, right?
So yesterday, they went into damage control mode.
And things have only escalated from there.
There's new fallout this evening
in the NBA's firestorm with China.
MAN: The NBA tonight fighting back after being blasted
for caving to China's communist government.
Commissioner Adam Silver defending
Houston Rockets' GM Daryl Morey.
We are not apologizing
for Daryl exercising
his freedom of expression.
MAN 2: Shortly after Adam Silver voiced the league's support
for free speech, fresh backlash
from the communist regime in Beijing.
MAN 1: China's government tonight digging in,
cancelling a Brooklyn Nets event at a Shanghai school.
MAN 3: In the last few hours, China has started
pulling down Lakers and Nets signage.
MAN 2: At least two major Chinese retailers
have pulled Houston Rockets' merchandise
from their websites.
China state TV said it won't broadcast
or stream NBA pre-season games in China.
Oh, no!
Not the pre-season! No!
(laughter)
Nobody cares about the pre-season games.
Fans in America are like, "Can you ban them here, as well?
Can you, uh...?"
Yeah, the pre-season is just, like, the boring stuff
we're forced to sit through before the main event.
Like, China banning pre-season
is like Disney getting rid of its lines.
Just like, "I'm sorry, but you'll have
"to go straight to the rides from now on!
I wish it didn't come to this!"
"Oh, no."
Still, though, China is seriously pissed off
about the tweet, right?
And they're also pissed off about the response from the NBA.
And they aren't just taking pre-season games off the air.
They're also cancelling NBA events,
they're ripping down NBA signs everywhere.
In fact, like, everything NBA-related
is basically banned. Yeah.
No basketball, no LeBron. In fact, no jumping. Yeah.
You see a puddle, you just walk right through that shit.
(laughter)
And you can have donuts, but no Dunkin'.
And all office workers in China,
if you need to throw something in the trash,
none of this. No buzzer beaters.
You get out, and you just place it gently in the bin.
(laughter)
So China is basically going to war with the NBA,
all because of a single tweet.
And as surprising as that may seem to some people,
the truth is, this kind of thing has been happening
between China and American companies a lot.
The NBA not the only one feeling the heat, either.
U.S. jeweler Tiffany also under fire
after tweeting an image of a Chinese model covering one eye
with people believing it was done in solidarity
with those Hong Kong protests.
Nike, bowing to pressure from Beijing,
pulling a sneaker from the Chinese market.
MAN: Activision has suspended a professional video game player
and taken away his prize money.
Apple took the Taiwan emoji off its keyboard
if you are in Hong Kong or Macao.
MAN: Marriott apologized to the Chinese government.
WOMAN: Versace, Givenchy, and Coach issued apologizes.
MAN: Mercedes-Benz is offering an apology.
WOMAN: The Gap issued a sincere apology.
WOMAN 2: Delta saying,
"We apologize deeply for the mistake."
Damn. China gets offended by a lot of shit.
They're like that one guy at work
who takes everything personally.
You're just like, "Hey, man, I like your shoes."
Like, "Oh, wow. So you don't like looking at me feet?"
"Uh, no, I-I do like your feet”"
"Gross. You're a pervert."
Now here's the thing.
The truth is, these companies don't have
to take orders from China about what to say or how to act,
but they do it because nobody wants
to lose access to a billion Chinese customers.
It's a powerful incentive.
So powerful, in fact,
that China's influence is affecting
how Americans can act on American soil.
NEWSWOMAN: Tonight's game between the 76ers
and China's team, the Guangzhou Loong Lions,
went on as planned as an international firestorm
hangs over the Wells Fargo Center.
And on the sidelines, Sam Wachs and his wife
held "Free Hong Kong" and "Free HK" signs
that were confiscated by security in the first quarter.
Then, in the second quarter, both got kicked out of the game
when Wachs started yelling, "Free Hong Kong!"
As someone who used to live there,
he supports the movement.
That's right. Fans in Philadelphia
got kicked out of a basketball game last night
for chanting, "Free Hong Kong."
And I didn't realize that yelling shit
at a basketball game was against the rules.
I mean, that must have been so confusing
for all the other fans, you know?
'Cause this guy is there like, "Free Hong Kong!"
And then the guy next to him was probably like,
"Hey, Ben Simmons, suck a Kardashian (bleep)!"
And then security's like, "You! Get out!
"No, not you. No, the 'Free Hong Kong' guy.
"You keep going. That stuff about the Kardashian (bleep),
that was hilarious. Carry on."
For more on the complicated relationship
between China and American businesses,
we turn to our senior NBA correspondent,
Ronny Chieng, everybody!
(cheering, applause)
Ronny...
this is a really, really contentious issue right now.
What are your thoughts on all of this?
Trevor, this whole thing is more disappointing
than every meal I've eaten at P.F. Chang's, okay?
That place is fake Chinese.
I'm so glad General Tso isn't around to see what they've done.
Quite frankly, I'm shocked at how these American companies
have behaved, okay?
It's complete bullshit, and they should be ashamed of themselves.
Wow. Ronny, you know, this-this takes guts.
Like, everyone else seems afraid to... to speak up about China,
but you taking a stand is very brave.
Well, someone has to say it.
In fact, I want to talk to China directly.
(clears throat)
-(laughter) -Wow!
Ronny, like, I don't understand what you're saying,
but I can feel your passion, man.
Tr-Trevor, please, I'm not finished.
Preach, brother, preach!
-Whoo! -(cheering, applause)
Wow!
Wow.
Ronny, that-that is amazing.
Did you... did you mention me?
'Cause, like, I thought I heard my name.
Oh, oh, y-yeah, yeah, I said you're...
you're my hero and my friend.
(laughter)
I'm honored, Ronny.
You're my hero and my friend.
How-how do I say that in Chinese?
Oh, uh... (speaks Chinese)
Oh.
Close enough.
Ronny Chieng, everybody.