Menu
Leagues and Governing Bodies

U.S. Sens Question NBA Again On China Youth Academy

Marsha Blackburn wants documentation from the NBA of its termination with the academy in Xinjiang GETTY IMAGES

Two U.S. senators purport that the NBA "deceived Congressional members about its involvement in a youth basketball academy based in a controversial region of China," according to Ross Dellenger of SI.com. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said that they are “'deeply concerned' about reports of abuse at the league’s youth-development program in Xinjiang and suggests that an NBA executive fabricated the timeline of its dealings with the academy," according to a two-page letter that lawmakers sent Thursday to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Dellenger noted the "root of the latest correspondence is the timing in which the NBA ended its relationship with the Xinjiang academy and how the association responded to the abuse unfolding within the facility." An ESPN story published July 29 revealed "mistreatment of young players by Chinese coaches." In a July 21 letter to Blackburn, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum wrote that the NBA had "ended its relationship with the Xinjiang basketball academy more than a year ago." However, ESPN and the N.Y. Times both have reported that the NBA’s Xinjiang academy was "operational as recently as last summer." The ESPN story, citing anonymous sources, "characterized the league’s original statement to Blackburn as 'completely inaccurate.'" In their letter, the senators are "requesting documentation from the NBA of its termination with the academy, asking the league to identify a specific date." They are also "demanding Silver answer five questions listed in the letter, giving the NBA an Aug. 26 deadline" (SI.com, 8/6)

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 18, 2024

Sports Business Awards nominees unveiled; NWSL's historic opening weekend and takeaways from CFP deal

ESPN’s Jay Bilas, BTN’s Meghan McKeown, and a deep dive into AppleTV+’s The Dynasty

On this week’s Sports Media Podcast from the New York Post and Sports Business Journal, ESPN’s Jay Bilas talks all things NCAA. Big Ten Network’s Meghan McKeown shares her insight into the Caitlin Clark craze. The Boston Globe’s Chad Finn chats all things Bean Town. And SBJ’s Xavier Hunter drops in to share his findings on how the NWSL is making a social media push.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2020/08/07/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NBA-China.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2020/08/07/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/NBA-China.aspx

CLOSE