The Philadelphia 76ers have officially parted ways with general manager Daryl Morey, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Morey stepped down after six years as the team’s president of basketball operations, following a meeting with owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer in Philadelphia on Tuesday night where both sides agreed to move in a different direction.
Morey began his NBA career in 2003 as the senior vice president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics. He joined the Houston Rockets in March 2006, was promoted to assistant general manager in April, and became general manager in 2007. After leaving the Rockets in October 2020, Morey quickly signed on with the 76ers as president of basketball operations.
Morey sparked a major controversy in October 2019 when he publicly expressed support for Hong Kong protesters. The backlash was immediate: the Chinese Basketball Association suspended all cooperation with the Rockets, and Chinese partners including CCTV, Tencent, and Li Ning paused or ended their deals with the team. Though Morey later responded, he never issued a formal apology. Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta quickly distanced the team from Morey’s remarks, and the NBA also stated that Morey’s views did not represent the league’s position. The incident dealt a severe blow to the Rockets and the NBA’s presence in the Chinese market.
