Woke At Home, NBA Owners Are Complicit With China’s Abuses

ESPN reported a blockbuster story Thursday revealing how the NBA’s troubling entanglements with communist China have serious implications for U.S. interests. Strategy Risks is a New York-based firm that evaluates China corporate exposure. The network asked Strategy Risks to review the potential conflicts for owners of the league.  

Strategy Risks found that China contributes significantly to the value of every NBA team. NBA China has a value of $5 billion. NBA China holds 90 percent, ESPN has 5 percent and the remaining is owned by state-controlled bank collectively. Each NBA team receives 150 million dollars from China. No wonder former NBA player and now broadcaster Rick Hamilton, seen in photo, love China. 

NBA team owners’ vulnerability to the Chinese dictatorship are well documented. In 2019, Houston General Manager Daryl Morey tweeted his support for Hong Kong protesters – prompting China to ban NBA broadcasts for three years (much longer than previously reported). 

That’s why we see Commissioner Adam Silver, LeBron James and other NBA figures pushing hard for social justice at home with one hand and holding out their other hand for Chinese windfalls. The NBA suffered a loss of hundreds of millions in the Morey-China split, and is not looking to stir up China. In fact, the commissioner and numerous team owners are walking on eggshells and refused to comment for ESPN’s exposé. 

Micky Arison, Miami Heat owner, owns Carnival Corp. which collaborated with China State Shipbuilding Corp. in 2018 to create a China-based line of cruise ships. This company has close ties to the Chinese military, and it builds aircraft carriers for People’s Liberation Army. It is currently building China’s first nuclear-powered carrier.  

ESPN reports, “The U.S. government lists the shipbuilder among foreign companies ‘acting contrary to the national security or foreign policy interests of the United States.’ ” 

Arison, back in America has pledged to continue a campaign for social justice. Erik Spoelstra, Heat coach, and Pat Riley team president have pledged to combat systemic racism in America. 

Joe Tsai is the Brooklyn Nets’ owner. He has 53.5 percent of China’s considerable net worth. Paul Jacobs is the Sacramento Kings’ co-owner. He has 30 percent or more of his net worth linked to China. 

Robert Pera owns the Memphis Grizzlies, and he derives 10 percent of his revenue from manufacturing facilities in China. Tilman Fertitta (Houston Rockets) is the president and CEO at Landry’s. He pulls in $160million from China. 

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan pledged $100 million for social justice activism in the U.S., and he has a China exposure of $85 million. 

Philadelphia 76ers principal owner Joshua Harris has significant exposure ($76 million) to China through Apollo Global Management’s three subsidiaries in Hong Kong and one in Shanghai. 

Dan Harris, is an attorney whose company Harris Bricken represents U.S. companies doing business in China, and he said, “They’re sort of betwixt and between. It’s death for China if they speak the American way. They can’t say anything China doesn’t want. 

These information are available for all NBA season ticket holders.