Latvian basketball officials deny player absence conspiracy theories

Latvian basketball figures are addressing conspiracy theories regarding the absence of key players from the national team ahead of World Cup qualification matches against Croatia and Israel. Several prominent players, including Kristaps Porziņģis, Artūrs Žagars, Rolands Šmits, and Andrejs Gražulis, will not participate in the upcoming games.

Entrepreneur and basketball official Mārtiņš Lauva suggested a potential link between player absences and the activities of Artūrs Kalnītis, an agent associated with national team sports director Dairis Bertāns, following reports of Kalnītis’s cooperation with Russian basketball clubs. Lauva questioned if player decisions were influenced by the director’s professional connections.

Former national team captain and current sports director Dairis Bertāns dismissed these claims as “quite foolish conspiracy theories,” stating that his friendship with Kalnītis has no bearing on player availability. He emphasized that he does not support Kalnītis’s business dealings with pro-Russian entities. Former player Rolands Freimanis also rejected the theories, asserting that players simply make their own individual choices regarding participation.