Report: Chinese government bars media availability for Lakers-Nets game
The preseason game between the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets in Shanghai will be played as scheduled, but the Chinese government has prohibited media availability for the players and NBA commissioner Adam Silver, according to ESPN's Rachel Nichols.
The decision comes after Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey tweeted in support of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement.
Fears the Lakers-Nets tilt would be canceled altogether were put to rest when Lakers superstar LeBron James took to the court for pregame warmups.
There were a LOT of moments this week where it didn’t look like we’d get here - but now it’s Thursday night in Shanghai, LeBron James is warming up, and the Lakers and Nets are going to play an actual basketball game. pic.twitter.com/XLBnfsBBt6
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) October 10, 2019
U.S. lawmakers have weighed in on the scandal, urging the NBA to suspend business with China.
"NBA players have a rich history of speaking out on sensitive topics of social justice and human rights inside the United States and the NBA takes pride in defending their right to do so," read a joint statement. "Yet while it is easy to defend freedom of speech when it costs you nothing, equivocating when profits are at stake is a betrayal of fundamental American values."
Local tipoff time is set for 7:30 p.m.