Chinese apparel brand ANTA halts contract negotiations with NBA

Chinese apparel maker ANTA said it will halt contract renewal negotiations with the NBA in the wake of the political controversy over a tweet by Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey, as reported by Reuters.

The company did not specify the nature of the negotiations. ANTA has endorsement contracts with Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson and Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward.

The announcement is the latest development in the deteriorating relationship between the NBA and China following Morey's since-deleted pro-democracy retweet regarding Hong Kong - a special administrative region of China - last week. And with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets scheduled to play two games in the country beginning Thursday, reports are circulating that the contests may be canceled.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver was scheduled to arrive in Shanghai on Wednesday, where he's hoping to meet with Chinese Basketball Association president and former NBA star Yao Ming.

"This issue may not die down so quickly," Silver said. "I'm hoping that Yao Ming and I can find an accommodation, but he is extremely hot at the moment, and I understand it."