Chicago Bulls: Dennis Rodman wants to help the NBA and China

As tensions between the NBA and China continue to rise, Chicago Bulls legend Dennis Rodman is here to help. He’s offered to be a diplomat between the two parties. Here’s why his schtick is wearing thin.

It’s a contentious time in the NBA after one tweet sent the league’s relationship with China into extremely rocky terrain. While the Chicago Bulls aren’t involved in this scandal, one of their biggest legends offered to help.

Houston Rockets GM Daryl Morey sent this tweet last week to show support for Hong Kong in their ongoing fight for autonomy from China. The tweet was quickly deleted, but the damage was done. The NBA was in damage control mode from that moment on.

Getting into the conflict that exists between China and Hong Kong isn’t what this site is about, and it’s way too complicated to break down in a couple of paragraphs. That being said, I’ll spend one paragraph trying to explain:

The issue somewhat boils down to Hong Kong and their “One country, two systems” agreement with China. Protesters are worried about the future of Hong Kong and want certain concessions from the Chinese government.

That’s an extreme oversimplification of what’s going on there now because there’s also issues of law, extradition, and the country’s future. Again, I’m not going to break all that down, but this article is a good place to start if you want to learn more about the situation.

Morey’s tweet immediately angered powerful Chinese officials and caused Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta to publicly denounce Morey’s statement. It reportedly almost cost Morey his job altogether.

Since the tweet, dominoes continue to fall with Chinese companies stripping away partnerships with the NBA and the country canceling the broadcast of two planned exhibition games this week. The games themselves are in danger of being canceled.

While commissioner Adam Silver offered lukewarm support of Morey, it’s clear this isn’t a favorable situation for the league. Still, Morey’s tweet completely forced their hand.

Enter Bulls legend Dennis Rodman. Rodman tweeted on Wednesday that he could help the NBA and China in matters of diplomacy and solve this issue. Rodman capped it with the tongue-in-cheek statement, “I know a thing or two about diplomacy.”

While this may seem like a hilarious way for Rodman and his handlers to shoehorn him into current events, it’s far more serious than any of Rodman’s little excursions to North Korea.

Rodman traveled to the brutal dictatorship several times between 2013 and 2018. It’s said that Rodman may have opened the door for US negotiations with the country, but that’s a stretch, to say the least.

There’s no proof that Rodman’s efforts led to conversations between the two countries, and most people remember one of Rodman’s drunken rants from his trips rather than his diplomatic efforts.

The situation in China caused the NBA to try and walk a very thin line while appeasing the nation. Rodman’s antics likely wouldn’t be welcome in the country. Another advantage he had was North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un’s lifelong Bulls fandom.

No such relationship exists with Rodman (or any retired American NBA player) and China. The country is interested in doing business with us, but it’s clear they’re not going to bend even a bit when it comes to this Hong Kong issue.

Sending Rodman to China would be an unmitigated disaster. It’s already a possibility China will cancel the NBA in their country. Having Rodman act as the lead diplomat between the countries could seal that deal.

Long story short, there are clearly powerful interests in China trying to figure out how to get the NBA to limit their employee’s free expression. The NBA’s silence is a tough look for a league known for progressivism.

China refuses to accept Morey’s apology or the NBA’s explanation. Adding Rodman to the situation may only expedite the NBA’s demise in China.