Kanter criticizes China; Celtics games blacked out?

[Roy H.]

GUANGZHOU, China — The National Basketball Association could once again face a backlash in China after Boston Celtics player Enes Kanter tweeted a video in support of independence for Tibet.

Not long after the tweet on Wednesday, highlights from the Celtics’ game against the Knicks were made unavailable on the Tencent Sports app. Upcoming Celtics games also appear to be unavailable for live stream.

In a video posted on Twitter, Kanter called Chinese President Xi Jinping a “brutal dictator” and said he supports Tibetan people’s “cause for freedom.” The NBA star, who has commented on political issues before, repeated the phrase “free Tibet” three times while wearing a t-shirt with the Dalai Lama on it.

“Under the Chinese government’s brutal rule, Tibetan peoples’ basic rights and freedoms are non-existent,” Kanter said. China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not immediately available for comment.

The Boston Celtics and NBA China were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

On Chinese Twitter-like service Weibo, one Boston Celtics fan account with 615,000 followers said they would no longer post about the team.

[footey]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

[Celtics2021]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

[Somebody]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Definitely hasn't been yet and likely won't be.

[liam]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

[Roy H.]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

Agreed.  In a world where our President and Congress are too cowardly or complicit to do anything, I guess the job falls to an end-of-bench NBA player without a major shoe deal.

[RPGenerate]

Are we gonna get more of Lebron telling people to shut up and dribble? We'll see if this affects Lebron "spiritually" aka Lebron's China money.

[gift]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

This is where American culture is supposed to influence China toward more tolerance. Unfortunately, too much of American culture has become $$$ culture and with those motivations it's easier for China to influence American culture toward intolerance.

[Big333223]

Not a great response to being called a dictator if you goal is to not look like a dictator.

[Moranis]

I guess they didn't take too kindly to his Free Tibet shoes and comments.

[tazzmaniac]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

Agreed.  In a world where our President and Congress are too cowardly or complicit to do anything, I guess the job falls to an end-of-bench NBA player without a major shoe deal.

They have stood up to China.  Militarily and diplomatically the focus has been shifted to Asia to deal with the Chinese threat.  What do you expect them to do?  Short of going to war or implementing a full global trade embargo nothing is going to have much affect on Chinese government behavior. 

[Kuberski33]

#FreeHongKong

[tazzmaniac]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

This is where American culture is supposed to influence China toward more tolerance. Unfortunately, too much of American culture has become $$$ culture and with those motivations it's easier for China to influence American culture toward intolerance.

American culture isn't going to change the Chinese government or the Chinese people in any meaningful way.  Chinese government has perfected controlling their people without doing so in a heavy handed way to most of their people. 

[Kuberski33]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

This is where American culture is supposed to influence China toward more tolerance. Unfortunately, too much of American culture has become $$$ culture and with those motivations it's easier for China to influence American culture toward intolerance.

American culture isn't going to change the Chinese government or the Chinese people in any meaningful way.  Chinese government has perfected controlling their people without doing so in a heavy handed way to most of their people.

Hate to say it but when it comes to economics, they probably do capitalism better than we do right now.  They're run like a company in that at the end of the day the CEO/Chairman Xi lays down the law and not following the company line/culture just isn't tolerated.

[Kernewek]

I support Kanter.

Will Chinese government block out Celticsstrong too??

I’d be surprised if it already isn’t blocked, but I’m definitely with Kanter on this one.

Someone has to stand up to China.

This is where American culture is supposed to influence China toward more tolerance. Unfortunately, too much of American culture has become $$$ culture and with those motivations it's easier for China to influence American culture toward intolerance.

American culture isn't going to change the Chinese government or the Chinese people in any meaningful way.  Chinese government has perfected controlling their people without doing so in a heavy handed way to most of their people.

Hate to say it but when it comes to economics, they probably do capitalism better than we do right now.  They're run like a company in that at the end of the day the CEO/Chairman Xi lays down the law and not following the company line/culture just isn't tolerated.

And, of course, we can all evaluate the merits (or lack thereof) of that ourselves.  But culture, government, and economics aren't as closely linked as you might presume.

You're correct that than in a vacuum unfettered capitalism in the US absolutely ends with God King Bezos, emperor of Dune.