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The Boston Celtics had their season opener pulled off the air in China by broadcaster Tencent. This decision was made after Enes Kanter made comments about the Free Tibet movement.

Kanter recently took to social media and called China's leader, Xi Jinping, a "brutal dictator" for his treatment of the Tibetan people. Kanter then wore shoes to Boston's opener with Free Tibet messaging emblazoned on them.

Celtics games being pulled from the air in China follows Philadelphia 76ers games also not being broadcast in the country. That decision is in its second year, due to Daryl Morey running the Sixers basketball operations. Two seasons ago, Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong, angering many in China. That led to the NBA as a whole being temporarily pulled off the air. The ban was then limited to Morey's then Houston Rockets team, before being transferred to the 76ers last season and this season.

Via New York Times

Good for Kanter. **** the CCP and LeBron.

He is doing this because China is backing Erodogen the crackpot Turkish leader. The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

Love this from the guy that wants to be “the reason that no one else wears #11 in BOS.”

That guy can't stop talking and making statements. Can't he just play basketball? Or is he looking for attention?

Appreciate those who speaks for the truth, as I came from Hong Kong.
Really disappointed on how the Olympic community still giving China the go-ahead with the Winter Olympic though, don't think I will watch it.

Lebron would never…

Tamimi wrote:That guy can't stop talking and making statements. Can't he just play basketball? Or is he looking for attention?

he's really a constant distraction, I'm kinda surprised he's still in the league

LeBron & the NBA tryna find a way to get this man out of the league ASAP.

Tamimi wrote:That guy can't stop talking and making statements. Can't he just play basketball? Or is he looking for attention?

Let him say what he wants to say. Isn't it good that at least some people out here are still standing in for their believes? If it means risking money or their job?

NBA to Enes: Shut up and dribble

jk31 wrote:

Tamimi wrote:That guy can't stop talking and making statements. Can't he just play basketball? Or is he looking for attention?

Let him say what he wants to say. Isn't it good that at least some people out here are still standing in for their believes? If it means risking money or their job?

Yes, this. Keep speaking up against this evil regime.

And just like that China proves Enes Canter right by censoring him.

Good for Kanter. Agree or disagree with his political views, he has every right to make them. And we should all staunchly defend his right to do so, and that includes the NBA. If we silence ourselves in the name of the almighty dollar, how much longer will we have the right to free expression?

Please don't defend China. Kanter is speaking the truth here.

Tamimi wrote:That guy can't stop talking and making statements. Can't he just play basketball? Or is he looking for attention?

Do you think he gets endorsement deals out of this or something? More likely he’s politically aware and is using his platform to make others aware as well, just like he did with Turkey. Good for him. For example, both you, and you’re ‘shut up and dribble’ response to this, should be researching China so you don’t make more terrible observations like this one.

Let's see what NBA will do. You cannot have double standards. On one hand you promote social justice and BLM but how about foreign players protesting similar issues in China (actually what is happening in China is probably worse than what's happening here).

I was unaware that after Daryl Morey left HOU, China transferred it’s ban on Rockets games to the Sixers. If they are targeting individuals for their free speech, that is something the NBA should take seriously.

And to me, it makes Enos Kanter’s decision to speak up on Tibet more courageous. Unlike Morey, he is not a star at his job, and Chinese pressure could cost him his career. China is a huge revenue source for the NBA. Despite that, I certainly hope Adam Silver comes out and defends Kanter’s free speech rights every bit as much as they did Morey’s.

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should have been working the other way around. nba should have been cancelling china. we dont need their money. Why should we be broadcasting our international game when they cant respect international culture? gtfo. The people sit by and let this happen, its not all on the CCP.

It's high time we cancel the Chinese market from the rest of the world until they're ready to play on the world's terms. Note to big business: oh well, you're going to have to do without those 1.2B potential consumers for now.