Steve Kerr isn’t one to stick to sports.
If the subject is Colin Kaepernick, mass shootings Or President Donald Trumpthe Golden State Warriors coach rarely hesitates to speak out on difficult and controversial topics.
Except Monday.
Kerr was asked about the controversy that engulfs the NBA after the league condemned Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey for a now-deleted tweet supporting Hong Kong protesters in their conflict with the Chinese government, which read “Fight for freedom.” Support Hong Kong.
He didn’t have much to say.
“Actually, I don’t.”
Steve Kerr is not commenting on the Morey/China/NBA situation. He says he’s read articles about it, but doesn’t feel competent enough to comment. Full round trip here. pic.twitter.com/HM1NuF46vG
-Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 8, 2019
“Actually, no,” Kerr said when asked if he had any thoughts on the controversy. “It’s a really bizarre international story. Many of us don’t know what to think about it. This is something I read like everyone else, but I’m not going to comment further.
This is far from Kerr’s standard response on social issues. He is right on one point. The conflict between the people of Hong Kong and the Chinese government is complex, and it is ill-advised to speak publicly about this subject from a place of ignorance.
But what’s not complicated is analyzing the NBA’s response to Morey’s comments, which clearly prioritizes the league’s financial interests over the league’s financial interests. human rights concerns On the other side of the world.
NBA apologizes for Morey’s ‘regrettable’ tweet
THE The NBA released a statement On Morey’s tweet, condemning it as “regrettable”:
We recognize that the views expressed by Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey have deeply offended many of our friends and fans in China, which is unfortunate. Although Daryl made it clear that his tweet does not represent the Rockets or the NBA, the league’s values ​​encourage individuals to educate themselves and share their views on issues important to them. We have great respect for China’s history and culture and hope that sports and the NBA can be used as a unifying force to bridge cultural divides and bring people together.
High financial stakes
The league and the Rockets in particular have significant financial ties to China, the hub of the NBA’s popularity. The Chinese Basketball Federation has promised to cut ties with the Rocketswhile China’s main state broadcaster CCTV 5 announced it would no longer broadcast Rockets games as part of a larger financial backlash from China in protest of Morey’s tweet.
The League under fire from American parliamentarians
The NBA’s response attracted swift condemnation from both sides of the American political aisle criticizing the league for prioritizing its financial interests ahead of human rights and Morey’s ability to speak freely on the issue.
And now Kerr seems to be muzzled when it comes to the subject that would have put Morey at risk of losing his jobeven if it would be safe for now.
During the same media session, Kerr doubled down on his plea for ignorance.
“Actually, what I’ve found is that it’s easy to talk about topics that I’m passionate about and feel like I’m knowledgeable about them,” Kerr said. “I found it made more sense to stick to topics that fit into that category. I try to limit my comments to these things.
Kerr said there is no mandate from the league for coaches and players to remain silent on the issue. But even if there isn’t, the NBA’s message rings loud and clear.
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