Tweet fallout overshadows win
TOKYO — James Harden and Russell Westbrook each scored 22 points to lead the Rockets to a 118-111 preseason victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday, but the Rockets could not escape the fallout from their general manager’s tweet last week.
Neither of the Rockets’ starting guards shot particularly well — combined, they were 13-of-33 from the field and 4-for-19 from 3point range — and Harden missed his last six 3-point attempts. But the Rockets started fast, getting out to a 22-8 lead, and then overcame a 13-point secondhalf deficit after both sides pulled most of their starters.
And the fans — more than 20,000— loved what they saw from the former MVPs, regaling them both with “M-V-P” chants.
“It feels great any time you hear those chants. Both of us have accomplished that unbelievable goal, being MVP,” Harden said. “I think the reason that we’re here together is to accomplish something bigger than that. Obviously, it’s going to take time, but we’re (headed) in the right direction, right steps. We have a long season ahead of us, and I think we’re all excited for it.”
At the postgame media session, CNN’s Christina Macfarlane asked Harden and Westbrook about players being comfortable speaking out about social and political issues in the future. The NBA has come under fire from the Chinese government and fans afterDaryl Morey’s tweet supporting the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong.
“The NBA has always been a league that prides
itself on its players and its coaches being able to speak out openly about political and societal affairs,” Macfarlane said to Harden and Westbrook. “I just wonder after the events of this week and the fallout we’ve seen whether you would both feel differently about speaking out in that way in the future.”
Before the players could respond, a Rockets media relations official quickly interjected: “Excuse me, we’re taking basketball questions only.”
“It’s a legitimate question,” Macfarlane responded. “This is an event that’s happened this week during the NBA ...”
“It’s been answered,” the Rockets official replied. “We’re taking basketball questions only.”
Macfarlane did not get an answer to her question but, after a social media backlash, the NBA released a statement saying the Rockets spokesperson was in the wrong.
“During today’s Houston Rockets media availability, a team representative inappropriately interjected to prevent CNN’s Christina Macfarlane from receiving an answer to her questions,” the statement said. “We’ve apologized to Ms. Macfarlane as this was inconsistent with how the NBA conducts media events.”
Harden had addressed the topic earlier this week in Tokyo, telling reporters, “We appreciate (China) as a fan base,” Harden said. “We love everything there about them, and we appreciate the support that they give us individually and as (an) organization.”