Shaq defends Daryl Morey’s position on Hong Kong protests

Shaquille O’Neal on Tuesday defended the Houston Rocket’s General Supervisor Daryl Morey, that set off a firestorm between the NBA and also China earlier this month when he tweeted his support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

“One of our best values here in America is free speech — we’re allowed to say what we want to say and we are allowed to speak out on injustices and that’s just how it goes and if people don’t understand that that’s something they have to deal with,” Shaq said during the NBA’s opening night pregame show.

“It was unfortunate for both parties, and you’ve got people speaking out about something they don’t know what they’re talking about. Daryl Morey was right — whenever you see something going on anywhere in the world, you should have the right to say, ‘That’s not right.'”

Morey tweeted on behalf of the anti-government protesters on October 4, saying, “Fight for Freedom, Stand with Hong Kong.” As a result, a number of Chinese companions cut connections with the NBA, its largest broadcaster rejected to air preseason video games occurring in the nation and the federal government called for Morey to be terminated.

Commissioner Adam Silver said the league sustains total free speech as well as there was no possibility that the league would certainly punish Morey over his tweet. Meanwhile, Morey has actually not resolved the debate given that numerous tweets trying to clarify his setting on the protests.