SAN FRANCISCO — A Golden State Warriors minority owner who said “nobody cares” about the Uyghurs in China is under fire and the team is distancing itself from him.
On the latest edition of his All-In Podcast, billionaire Chamath Palihapitiya dismissed the situation in China, which is accused by the U.S. of genocide and crimes against humanity because of the treatment of the Uyghurs Muslim minority population in the Xinjiang region in northwest China.
“Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs, OK?” Palihapitiya said at the nearly 15-minute mark of the show from Saturday. “… I’m telling you a very hard, ugly truth, OK, of all the things that I care about, yes it is below my line.”
Golden State swiftly reacted Monday by saying Palihapitiya’s views aren’t reflective of those of the team.
“As a limited investor who has no day-to-day operating functions with the Warriors, Mr. Palihapitiya does not speak on behalf of our franchise, and his views certainly don’t reflect those of our organization,” the Warriors said in a statement.
Palihapitiya, who was born in Sri Lanka, later backtracked. In a Twitter post to his 1.5 million followers, he wrote that “important issues deserve nuanced discussions. Some clarifying comments:
“In re-listening to this week’s podcast, I recognize that I come across as lacking empathy. I acknowledge that entirely. As a refugee, my family fled a country with its own set of human rights issues so this is something that is very much a part of my lived experience. To be clear, my belief is that human rights matter, whether in China, the United States, or elsewhere. Full stop.”
Swiss-born Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter Freedom expressed his outrage on social media.
“When (at)NBA says we stand for justice, don’t forget there are those who sell their soul for money & business like (at)chamath the owner of (at)warriors who says `Nobody cares about what’s happening to the Uyghurs.’ When genocides happen, it is people like this that let it happen. Shame!”
After Tuesday’s shootaround, Warriors star Andrew Wiggins was asked about Palihapitiya’s comments and made it clear they have different beliefs.
PACERS: The Indiana Pacers expect center Myles Turner to miss at least the next two weeks with an injured left foot.
Team officials announced that the 6-foot-11 Turner was examined by multiple specialists who diagnosed him with a “stress reaction.” Turner will get treatment and be re-evaluated in two weeks, the Pacers said.
He has been one of the league’s top shot-blockers since the Pacers selected him in the first round of the 2015 draft, winning last season’s blocks title. This season, Turner was averaging 12.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks in 42 games.
He missed Monday’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers with what the team described as a sore left foot and ankle.
Turner also has been rumored to be on the trading block for several years. This year’s NBA trade deadline is Feb. 10.
TUESDAY’S GAME
TIMBERWOLVES 112, KNICKS 110: Karl-Anthony Towns converted a go-ahead three-point play with 29 seconds left and Minnesota won at New York.
The Knicks got a strong game from Kemba Walker in his return from a nine-game absence with a sore left knee and nursed a lead for most of the fourth quarter.
But the Timberwolves rallied and then held on when Alec Burks missed a 3-pointer that would have won it for New York.
Anthony Edwards scored 21 points and Towns had 20 for the Wolves, who won for the sixth time in eight games to level their record at 22-22. D’Angelo Russell added 17 points.
Evan Fournier scored 27 points and Julius Randle had 21 for the Knicks, who lost for the second straight day and dipped back below .500 at 22-23. Walker scored 17 of his 19 points in the second half.
Comments are not available on this story.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
