Earlier quoted context omitted.
My I'm just feeling cynical, but this just sounds to me like an easy way to have it both ways: 1. Placate the US by putting out a public statement saying "We support freedom of speech for our people." 2. Placate China by using a backchannel to ensure that no one in the NBA actually uses this nominal freedom to say something that hurts China's feelings. Actually standing up would require supporting a statement that ha…
You are just theorizing that #2 is happening with no evidence.
1. a) "Steve Kerr's silence shows NBA-China relationship is league's third rail" - [https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/warriors/steve-kerrs-silen...]
b) [https://twitter.com/JamesHasson20/status/1181422479115456512]
2. "NBA Stars Seek to Stay on China’s Good Side" - [https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-10-08/james-har...]3. "Opinion: It's time for LeBron James to speak out on China, regardless of Nike ties" - [https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/columnist/josh-peter/2...]