It wasn't because of a bad call or a player ejection.

這不是因為錯誤的判罰，也不是因為球員被驅逐。

It was because of a tweet.

是因為一條微博。

We're at the NBA preseason match

我們在NBA的季前賽上

between the Brooklyn Nets and LA Lakers in Shanghai.

布魯克林籃網隊和洛杉磯湖人隊在上海的比賽。

An hour before the game,

比賽前一個小時。

we could see people handing out Chinese flags to fans.

我們可以看到人們向球迷派發中國國旗。

It was a reminder of the politically charged events

這是對政治事件的提醒

that led up to the game.

導致了這場比賽。

So how exactly did the NBA manage to piss off an entire country?

那麼，NBA究竟是如何做到惹怒整個國家的？

It all started when Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey

這一切都始於休斯敦火箭隊總經理達里爾-莫雷。

posted his support for the Hong Kong protests on Twitter.

在Twitter上發佈了他對香港抗議活動的支持。

The tweet was quickly deleted

該微博很快被刪除

but not before sparking outrage in China,

但在引發中國的憤怒之前。

where the protests are viewed as an issue of sovereignty.

抗議被視為主權問題。

The NBA rushed out a statement distancing itself from Morey,

NBA趕緊發表聲明，與莫雷保持距離。

but it was roundly criticized as equivocating.

但卻遭到了全面的責備，認為其含糊不清。

U.S. politicians accused the NBA of kowtowing to China

美國政客指責NBA向中國磕頭的行為。

and restricting free speech,

並限制言論自由。

and Chinese fans called it a non-apology.

而中國球迷則稱其為不道歉。

For the first time in over 30 years

30多年來第一次

since entering the Chinese market,

自進入中國市場以來。

the NBA found itself stuck

NBA發現自己陷入

between Chinese and American interests.

中美利益之間。

Until now, the NBA has largely avoided political topics

直到現在，NBA基本上都在迴避政治話題

in China to grow its fanbase there,

在中國發展其粉絲群。

while in the United States,

在美國的時候，。

the NBA has developed an image

NBA已經形成了一個形象

as the “most woke sports league”

作為 "最清醒的體育聯盟"

for allowing players to openly express their political views.

因為允許玩家公開表達自己的政治觀點。

In the end, the NBA chose free speech.

最終，NBA選擇了言論自由。

The effect in China was immediate.

在中國的效果是立竿見影的。

The government canceled fan events in Shanghai

政府取消了上海的球迷活動

and suspended NBA broadcasts.

並暫停了NBA的轉播。

Posters were removed,

海報被刪除。

sponsor booths were taken down,

贊助商攤位被拆。

and Rockets-related merch

和火箭隊相關的商品

was pulled from e-commerce sites.

被從電商網站上撤下。

When the players arrived at the Ritz-Carlton on Oct. 8,

10月8日，當球員們抵達麗思卡爾頓酒店時。

there were only a handful of fans there to greet them.

只有少數粉絲在那裡迎接他們。

And that would be a big problem for the NBA.

而這對於NBA來說，將是一個大問題。

China is the NBA's largest overseas market.

中國是NBA最大的海外市場。

Last season, over 490 million viewers in China

上一季，中國觀眾超過4.9億人次。

tuned into live broadcasts on the streaming website Tencent.

收看了流媒體網站騰訊的直播。

Basketball is one of the country's favorite sports.

籃球是國人最喜歡的運動之一。

Three hundred million people play the game in China,

中國有三億人玩遊戲。

and the NBA has built a business there worth over $4 billion.

而NBA在那裡建立了一個價值超過40億美元的企業。

According to the USC Sports Business Institute,

據南加州大學體育商業學院。

the Chinese market contributes to at least 10%

中國市場的貢獻率至少為10%。

of the league's current revenue,

佔聯盟目前收入的。

and it's expected to reach 20% by 2030.

並預計到2030年將達到20%。

Ironically, the team that has helped boost

具有諷刺意味的是，該團隊曾幫助推動

the NBA's profile in China

NBA在中國的形象

is none other than the Houston Rockets.

是正是休斯頓火箭隊。

In 2002, the Rockets recruited Yao Ming

2002年，火箭隊招募了姚明

as their first pick in the NBA draft.

作為他們在NBA選秀中的第一人選。

He played there for eight seasons,

他在那裡效力了八個賽季。

and the Rockets instantly became China's favorite team,

和火箭隊一下子成為中國人最喜歡的球隊。

which is why Morey's tweet stung even more.

所以莫雷的推特才會更加刺眼。

Here's why the issue feels so personal to many Chinese people.

這就是為什麼這個問題讓很多中國人感覺如此個人化。

Now, the fans are publicly threatening

現在，粉絲公開威脅

to boycott the NBA in droves.

來紛紛抵制NBA。

Other brands have also faced PR crises

其他品牌也面臨公關危機

because of apparent slights against the Chinese people.

因為對中國人民的明顯輕視。

Versace and Coach got in trouble in August

範思哲和Coach在8月陷入困境

for some shirts that listed Hong Kong and Macau

一些標明香港和澳門的襯衣。

separate from China.

從中國分離出來。

And the consequences are huge.

而後果是巨大的。

No one knows that more than Dolce & Gabbana,

沒有人比Dolce & Gabbana更清楚這一點。

which faced a massive boycott after releasing

在發佈後面臨大規模的抵制。

an advertisement perceived as racist.

被認為是種族主義的廣告；

The company is still paying for its slight one year on.

該公司仍在為其稍許的一年的期間支付。

Back at the NBA game in Shanghai,

回到上海的NBA比賽。

the stadium was still pretty full,

體育場還是挺滿的。

despite the controversy of the past several days.

儘管過去幾天的爭議。

Many fans didn't want to talk to us on camera

很多粉絲都不願意在鏡頭前跟我們交談

because they feared being doxxed by other Chinese people.

因為他們害怕被其他中國人doxx。

But in private,

但在私下裡。

they admitted that they didn't want to have to choose

他們承認，他們不想選擇

between their love for the game

在他們對遊戲的熱愛之間

and their country.

和他們的國家。