The Iran War has been underway since late February when the U.S. and Israel bombed the Islamic Republic, among other things killing the entire Iranian leadership in a surprise attack and attacking an Iranian school, killing more than 150 school girls. Since then, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps has struck back against U.S. and allied targets in the Gulf region and closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz through which much of the world’s petroleum shipments pass. While ceasefires come and go, the effects
of the war, including targeted strikes continue, keeping countries from Kuwait to Oman, as well as U.S. bases throughout the region in the cross-hairs.
As Brian Windhorst reported on Tuesday, the war also put a stop to a round of NBA games the league planned in the Gulf States this October. The games had never been officially announced but Windhorst said things were well along until the NBA pulled the plug only a few days ago on the plan, which he said included a Nets game in Qatar.
The Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards would have played in Doha, the capital of the Emirate whose natural gas facilities have been a particular target of Iranian attacks. Restoring those facilities is expected to take months putting a big crimp in the Qatari economy and culture.
“The NBA was planning on having games in Doha this fall. I believe the Wizards and Nets were planning on going there, and possibly even the Cavs. The Cavs and Heat were looking at going to Abu Dhabi, and then going to Doha, but the Wizards and Nets were going to Doha. Those were, they never were announced, and a few days ago, the NBA decided to just move on from that obviously because of the situation in the Middle East.”
Attempts to get comment from BSE failed.
The game would presumably have been a preseason tilt like the the one the New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers played last October in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates. The Gulf States, particularly the UAE, has been seen as fertile ground for the league in terms of fandom. The region is fast developing and games there have been popular. The oil-rich nations’ sovereign wealth funds are also seen as long-term, if passive, investors in NBA teams.
Both the Wizards and Nets have ties with Qatar. In June 2023, the Qatar Investment Authority purchased a five percent stake in the Washington Wizards’ parent company, Monumental Sports & Entertainment. The NBA had had decided to allow minority team investments from sovereign wealth funds at the end of 2022.
Meanwhile, Qatar Airways, the state-owned airline, has had business ties to Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment, the Nets parent for the past eight years, sponsoring a club, the Qatar Airways Club, and VIP entrance at Barclays Center. until this coming season, The Qatari royal family, which maintains a residence on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, also maintained a suite at the arena.
Qatar through its Qatari Sports Investments has invested heavily in European sports, primarily Paris Saint Germain (PSG), the French-based sports group that owns one of the world’s most valuable soccer franchises and is interested in acquiring a franchise in the NBA’s planned European league, representing Paris. Qatar also controls BeIN, the TV sports network which some call the ESPN of Europe.
Qatar’s investments have drawn criticism with more than one analyst accusing it of “sports washing,” that is improving its reputation through sport.
For their part, the Nets historically have never been known to turn down an overseas trip. They lead the league in games played outside North America at 23 following the NBA China Games in Macao last October. It was their fourth trip to the PRC and they’ve played in arenas across the world, in Japan, England, Mexico, Italy and Israel. This would have been their first trip to the Arab World.
