The controversial tweet of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey that angered the Chinese government has caused countless headaches for the NBA since the message was sent.
A new report indicates that the social media post also apparently cost a member of the Los Angeles Lakers a lucrative endorsement deal.
ESPN’s Dave McMenamin looked at the aftermath of Morey’s tweet and how it affected the NBA, Lakers and Brooklyn Nets. One unnamed Lakers player in particular was forced to deal with the ramifications of a controversy that he didn’t create.
“[LeBron] James, Anthony Davis, Kyle Kuzma and Rajon Rondo — to name a few — had appearances canceled,” McMenamin wrote. “One Lakers player, sources told ESPN, had agreed to a $1 million endorsement deal with a Chinese company prior to the trip. When he arrived — poof — it was gone. A seven-figure payday went out the window.”
James has since sparked his own controversy by offering criticism of Morey, leading to charges that he was bowing to the Chinese to protect his endorsements within that country. Morey’s tweet had supported those in Hong Kong who were protesting against the Chinese government.
The Lakers and Nets did eventually play both of their scheduled preseason games before returning to the United States. However, in the second contest, the Lakers received a major scare when Davis suffered a thumb injury that now appears to be minor in nature.
Both teams will get their 2019-20 season underway next week, with the Lakers playing their Staples Center co-tenant, the Los Angeles Clippers, on Tuesday night to get things started.
