NBA star Harden apologizes after China dispute

NBA star James Harden has asked China for forgiveness after a pro-Hong Kong tweet from the Houston Rockets general manager.

“We apologize. We love China,” Harden said on the sidelines of two Rockets preliminaries in Tokyo on Monday, distancing himself from the controversy: “We love playing there.

GM Daryl Morey had expressed his support for the pro-democracy demonstrators on Friday via Twitter. In response, Chinese state television announced that it would no longer broadcast rocket games. China’s basketball federation CBA and sponsors want to end cooperation with the club.

Morey rowed back in the face of the wave of indignation from the Far East on Monday. He did not intend to upset Rockets fans and friends in China with his tweet. Houston has had a large fan base in China since 2002 when the Texans signed Chinese basketball idol Yao Ming. The NBA also tried to reassure its Chinese partners and fans with a statement.