The NBA has come under criticism again over its international partnerships after a report from Human Rights Watch accused the league of potentially taking part in “sportswashing” because of its budding relationship with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The report published Tuesday focused on the league’s two preseason games held in Abu Dhabi in October and this year’s in-season tournament, renamed the Emirates NBA Cup following the league’s multiyear global marketing partnership with the airline announced in February.
A view from the opening ceremony during the preseason game between the Denver Nuggets and the Boston Celtics in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 6, 2024. (Waleed Zein/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The report accused the UAE of using its new platform as a “part of the Emirati government’s efforts to distract from the many human rights violations it is committing at home and abroad,” adding that the league risks contributing to those efforts over its failure to speak out on…
