ESPN reports player abuse, lack of schooling at NBA China academies

An ESPN investigation found that the NBA faced complaints from its own employees over human rights concerns inside the NBA academies in China.

Following from the ESPN story:

“American coaches at three NBA training academies in China told league officials their Chinese partners were physically abusing young players and failing to provide schooling, even though commissioner Adam Silver had said that education would be central to the program, according to multiple sources with direct knowledge of the complaints.”

“American coaches were frequently harassed and surveilled in Xinjiang, the sources said. One American coach was detained three times without cause; he and others were unable to obtain housing because of their status as foreigners.”

“One former coach described watching a Chinese coach fire a ball into a young player’s face at point-blank range and then “kick him in the gut.”