NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league “will not put itself in a position of regulating what players, employees and team owners say or will not say on these issues.”
Silver’s statement was sent out shortly before he was to hold a news conference in Tokyo.
Silver says “it is inevitable that people around the world _ including from America and China _ will have different viewpoints over different issues. It is not the role of the NBA to adjudicate those differences.”
Silver also responded to those criticizing the league’s approach over the last several days, including some U.S. lawmakers.
He says “this is about far more than growing our business. … Values of equality, respect and freedom of expression have long defined the NBA – and will continue to do so. As an American-based basketball league operating globally, among our greatest contributions are these values of the game.”