Warriors President and chief operating officer Rick Welts doesn’t expect the NBA to prevent players or management from continuing to speak out on social issues, even in the wake of China’s reaction to Rockets general manager Daryl Morey’s recent comments about Hong Kong protesters.

“It’s not going to happen,” Welts told CNBC when asked Monday whether the league would bar people from discussing the Hong Kong protests. “It’s not what the NBA is about. It’s not what our leadership is about.

“I think it’s one of the things that’s distinguished in the NBA, in terms of the encouragement of everyone to have a voice.”

The NBA faces major criticism in mainland China after Morey voiced support Friday for pro-democracy protesters in a since-deleted tweet that said, “Fight for Freedom. Stand for Hong Kong.”

1/ I did not intend my tweet to cause any offense to Rockets fans and friends of mine in China. I was merely voicing one thought, based on one interpretation, of one complicated event. I have had a lot of opportunity since that tweet to hear and consider other perspectives. — Daryl Morey (@dmorey) October 7, 2019

The Chinese Consulate-General in Houston rebuked Morey’s tweet, saying, “We have lodged representations and expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Houston Rockets.” The Chinese Basketball Association, whose president is former Rockets center Yao Ming, announced that it is cutting ties with Houston.

It has canceled the G League’s planned exhibition games between affiliates of the Rockets and Dallas Mavericks scheduled for later this month in China. Tencent, the TV partner for the NBA in China, will no longer broadcast Rockets games.

The NBA called the reaction to Morey’s comments “regrettable” before reaffirming the league’s commitment to free speech. This controversy is problematic for the NBA, which has long taken pride in its popularity and business interests in China.

“NBA China has literally hundreds of employees in China today who are promoting the game of basketball and promoting the sport and its business on television and consumer products,” said Welts, whose Warriors are China’s favorite team. “... I think, when we put this in perspective, six months from now it’s not going to look as big as it’s looking today.”

The Warriors are among sports’ biggest leaders in matters of public discourse. Seldom does a week pass without head coach Steve Kerr or one of his players voicing their opinions about political issues such as immigration, gun reform or medical marijuana.

Connor Letourneau is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cletourneau@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @Con_Chron