OT: ESPN Article on NBA China Academies

[HuskyHawk]

The NBA isn't going to be able to deflect and avoid this much longer.

The NBA employees who spoke with ESPN said many of the league's problems stemmed from the decision to embed the academies in government-run sports facilities. The facilities gave the NBA access to existing infrastructure and elite players, Tatum said. But the arrangement put NBA activities under the direction of Chinese officials who selected the players and helped define the training.

"We were basically working for the Chinese government," one former coach said.

Sources report abuse at NBA China academies

In an interview with ESPN about its findings, an NBA official said the league is "reevaluating" the China academies after concluding it had insufficient oversight over the program.

www.espn.com

 

[gtcam]

The NBA has turned into a joke - the administration is greedy and that causes them to be ignorant of moral well being.
The players, especially the "superstars" who have become spokespeople for political arenas speak out of both sides of their mouths - they ignore the sweatshops of corporations that pay them millions yet feel so free to spout out about things in this country that is way above their pay levels
I'm basically done with the NBA, I'll miss my Celtics, and soon the MLB, NFL and MLS will be included.
It's impossible to watch an NFL game or NBA national broadcast game without some announcer making a social/political statement that gets dragged on and dilutes the broadcast.

 

[OldBosd]

I've watched a couple of Celtics games this week but it feels as much fun as watching a video game.

It's weird.

The NBA participating in practices where kids are physically abused can't last. Won't last.

However, the NBA will shut up and dribble as long as China buys their products or makes their products.

 

[UconnU]

They were physically beating uighur children at NBA camps? Wow. Why isn’t this a bigger story?

 

[Scoe]

ESPN has a part in this too btw.

 

[huskyfan224]

I wish sports would go back to being sports. I miss an escape from politics and the PC culture

 

[CTBballfan243]

I pretty much stop watching all professional sports. I have tuned into a few baseball games but tune in after the game has already started. I'll probably check out a few NHL games but will wait until the game has started before tuning in. I only watch for a little while. Just don't have the interest anymore.

 

[UCTitleTown]

I spent quite a bit of time in China and watched a lot of the Chinese Basketball League. It was hilarious. They had one or two Americans on each team. Almost every play involved the Chinese players passing the ball a bit and then giving it to the American players to score.

 

[auggie22]

The NBA has turned into a joke - the administration is greedy and that causes them to be ignorant of moral well being.
The players, especially the "superstars" who have become spokespeople for political arenas speak out of both sides of their mouths - they ignore the sweatshops of corporations that pay them millions yet feel so free to spout out about things in this country that is way above their pay levels
I'm basically done with the NBA, I'll miss my Celtics, and soon the MLB, NFL and MLS will be included.
It's impossible to watch an NFL game or NBA national broadcast game without some announcer making a social/political statement that gets dragged on and dilutes the broadcast.

People hold Jordan’s lack of activism against him, and to a certain extent they should. Why LeBron seems to have skated after basically defending the Chinese was worse in my opinion, if only because at least Jordan did not pretend to be anything but a businessman when it came to his brand ... Lebron has gone over the top to tell everyone what an activist he is, and when he had an opportunity to actually make a difference he punted because it was a cause that could actually hurt his wallet.

 

[OldBosd]

People hold Jordan’s lack of activism against him, and to a certain extent they should. Why LeBron seems to have skated after basically defending the Chinese was worse in my opinion, if only because at least Jordan did not pretend to be anything but a businessman when it came to his brand ... Lebron has gone over the top to tell everyone what an activist he is, and when he had an opportunity to actually make a difference he punted because it was a cause that could actually hurt his wallet.

I think Lebron doesn't really know what is happening in China.

He is basically a stand up guy. I think he will evolve on this.

 

[navery12]

The NBA has turned into a joke - the administration is greedy and that causes them to be ignorant of moral well being.
The players, especially the "superstars" who have become spokespeople for political arenas speak out of both sides of their mouths - they ignore the sweatshops of corporations that pay them millions yet feel so free to spout out about things in this country that is way above their pay levels
I'm basically done with the NBA, I'll miss my Celtics, and soon the MLB, NFL and MLS will be included.
It's impossible to watch an NFL game or NBA national broadcast game without some announcer making a social/political statement that gets dragged on and dilutes the broadcast.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out

 

[OldBosd]

Don't let the door hit you on the way out

I'm not sure that is a winning sports marketing strategy.

Unless the NBA is willing to die on the social justice mountain vs. China and prove to everyone its not just an act but a heroic stand for the little guy.

 

[navery12]

I'm not sure that is a winning sports marketing strategy.

Unless the NBA is willing to die on the social justice mountain vs. China and prove to everyone its not just an act but a heroic stand for the little guy.

I can (and do) expect the NBA to take a stand against China. It's slowly started to trickle out in interviews. But that wasn't gtcam's or my point

 

[OldBosd]

I can (and do) expect the NBA to take a stand against China. It's slowly started to trickle out in interviews. But that wasn't gtcam's or my point

I know. You think you excommunicated a witch or an apostate.

The China stuff is a bit more sticky. I think they will take a stand but I'm not sure. And they might take a performative stand with nothing behind it.

 

[huskyfan224]

Lakers vs Clippers was very hard to watch. I thought I was watching a CNN pickup game with what I saw on the court