Two US senators have penned a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, accusing the league of "putting profit over principle" by partnering with Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and maintaining ties with China amid concerns over human rights abuses.
The United States Senate has taken aim at the National Basketball Association (NBA) for its controversial relationships with authoritarian regimes, in particular Rwandan dictator Paul Kagame and the Chinese Communist Party.
In a scathing letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) expressed their concerns about the league's partnerships with individuals and governments accused of human rights violations.
NBA Accused of Hypocrisy for Doing Business with Dictators
"The NBA has long positioned itself as a beacon of social justice, but it continues to develop relationships with dictators and despots," the senators wrote.
Their criticism stems from an ESPN report that detailed the NBA's partnership with Kagame in establishing the Basketball Africa League. While acknowledging the league's efforts to promote the sport in Africa, the senators questioned Kagame's human rights record.
NBA Accused of Hypocrisy for Doing Business with Dictators
"Anyone who dares to question Kagame's rule – whether it be opposition candidates or the free press – is jailed, disappeared or brutally murdered," the letter reads.
The senators also raised concerns about the NBA's relationship with China, highlighting the alleged $10 billion investment by league owners in the country. They cited the case of former NBA player Enes Kanter Freedom, who has been outspoken in his criticism of the league's cozying up to the Chinese Communist Party.
NBA Accused of Hypocrisy for Doing Business with Dictators
"The conversations that we've had with Paul Kagame have all been about improving the lives of Rwandan people," NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum told ESPN in defense of the league's partnership with Kagame. "How can we create, how can we inspire and connect people through the game of basketball to make Rwandan peoples' lives better."
However, the senators argued that doing business with dictators is not an effective way to promote human rights. "Playing ball with dictators and brutal regimes should not be the NBA's business model," the letter concludes. "Instead, the league should use its influence to advocate for governance reforms, including respect for the rule of law."
The senators' letter demands that Silver answer a series of questions regarding the NBA's relationship with Rwanda and its plans to improve the lives of Rwandan people. They also urge the league to reconsider its partnerships with authoritarian regimes and use its platform to advocate for human rights.
The NBA's relationships with Kagame and China have raised ethical concerns among sports fans and human rights activists alike. The league has defended its partnerships on the grounds of promoting basketball and fostering cross-cultural understanding, but the senators' letter suggests that these relationships may be undermining the NBA's commitment to social justice.
The senators' letter is a significant step in holding the NBA accountable for its business practices and highlighting the importance of human rights in sports. It remains to be seen how the league will respond to their demands and whether it will reconsider its relationships with authoritarian regimes.
