(Reuters) – Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) club Fujian Sturgeons have cut ties with former Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson over “inappropriate” comments the team said he posted on social media, state news agency Xinhua reported on Sunday.
Xinhua said Lawson, who joined Fujian for the 2019-20 season and guided them to the playoffs, published a post which was criticised for insulting Chinese women.
The comments were on Lawson’s Instagram account, where stories disappear after 24 hours, according to media reports.
Lawson could not immediately be reached for comment on the club’s decision.
“His inappropriate words are inconsistent with the social responsibilities and values abided by our club and have brought serious adverse social impacts to the club and the league,” the Chinese club said in a statement.
Lawson’s contract expired at the end of the 2019-20 season in August and Fujian said they would not offer him a new deal.
The 32-year-old was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves with the 18th overall pick in 2009 and was traded to the Nuggets.
He had spells with the Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards over the course of an eight-year career in the NBA.
(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru)
