The Deputy Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) in the United States, Mark Tatum, explained that the organization’s partnerships with countries, including Rwanda, aim to promote basketball and build collaborations that can help address global challenges.
He mentioned this in a letter responding to U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn and Jeff Merkley. The two senators had previously written to the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver, expressing concerns over the NBA’s partnership with Rwanda.
Their concerns were prompted by an ESPN report that highlighted the NBA’s cooperation with Rwanda, suggesting that the partnership was confusing and inappropriate.
In response, Mark Tatum clarified that all the countries they collaborate with are approved by the U.S. government, which sets guidelines for international partnerships.
He stated, “If U.S. policies change regarding a specific country, whether it’s Rwanda or another, our operations will also adjust to reflect those changes.”
Tatum emphasized that through the NBA’s partnerships with various countries and organizations, they are able to contribute to campaigns against gender-based violence, promote education for girls, and encourage their participation in basketball.
He added that the NBA’s activities in Africa are also creating jobs and supporting economic development across the continent.
Senator Marsha Blackburn, one of the authors of the letter criticizing the NBA’s partnerships, has been a controversial figure. In 2021, she used her position as a senator to avoid getting a ticket when stopped by the police.
Instead of waiting to understand why she was stopped, reports claim that the senator, who was rushing to the airport, showed the officer her Senate ID and was allowed to continue her journey without being penalized.
Some view this incident as an abuse of her power for personal benefit, and as a misuse of her authority in a way that is not legally justified.
