The NBA on Thursday said the Rockets erred in shutting down a reporter's question to star players James Harden and Russell Westbrook.
Following the Rockets' preseason victory over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday in Tokyo, 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 after general manager Daryl Morey's tweet last week supporting the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. The tweet was quickly deleted and owner Tilman Fertitta was quick to distance the franchise from Morey's statemment.