The National Basketball Association found itself fighting public relations wars on multiple fronts this week, and across the political spectrum, as an uproar over an NBA executive’s statement that ran afoul of Chinese sensibilities revealed hypocrisy in how the league treats expressions of dissent. Chinese outrage followed Houston Rockets general manager Darryl Morey’s brief tweet in support of Hong Kong protestors—“Fight for freedom. Stand with Hong Kong”—provoking multiple abject apologies and appeasing words from the NBA, its owners, and even players. A league statement called Morey’s comments “regrettable.”

But the NBA’s courage to speak truth to power dissipates when faced with the power of China’s monstrous Communist regime. When Chairman Xi yanks the NBA’s corporate chain, the league tells its fans: “Shut up and watch us dribble.” This should be very worrying for all Americans, not just sports fans. If the price of US companies doing business in China involves self-censorship, there should be no sale.