# Latvian national basketball team controversies

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/latvian-national-basketball-team-controversies
> Updated: 2026-08-14T06:33:22.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

Latvian basketball officials have addressed internal controversies regarding the national team. Following the absence of several key players, including Kristaps Porziņģis, from World Cup qualification matches against Croatia and Israel, conspiracy theories emerged suggesting professional conflicts of interest. 

Some officials questioned whether player decisions were influenced by the connections of sports director Dairis Bertāns to an agent reportedly cooperating with Russian basketball clubs. Bertāns dismissed these claims as “quite foolish conspiracy theories,” maintaining that his professional relationships do not impact player availability and that he does not support business dealings with pro-Russian entities. Other figures asserted that players make individual choices regarding their participation.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-14: Latvian basketball officials deny player absence conspiracy theories

Latvian basketball officials Dairis Bertāns and Rolands Freimanis have dismissed conspiracy theories linking player absences from the national team to agent connections with Russian basketball interests.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/latvian-basketball-officials-deny-player-absence-conspiracy-theories

### 2026-08-08: Latvian Basketball Federation vows to fight racist abuse, will involve FIBA

Latvian Basketball Federation chief Kaspars Cipruss condemned recent racist online attacks on national team players, saying they will not be tolerated, and has appealed to FIBA and may involve police.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/latvian-basketball-federation-vows-to-fight-racist-abuse-will-involve-fiba

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Cite as: Latvian national basketball team controversies. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/latvian-national-basketball-team-controversies