LeBron James criticized by murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée for ties to Saudi Arabia

The fiancée of murdered journalist Jamal Khashoggi has criticized basketball legend LeBron James’ links to Saudi Arabia.

James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, joked he would play in Saudi Arabia after Al Hilal made a world-record £260m bid for Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain.

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But this month, the Los Angeles Lakers star was actually spotted in the country.

The 38-year-old was pictured coaching young basketball players in Saudi Arabia.

National official X The account said he was there “to help mentor the next generation of Saudi basketball players, providing guidance to young men and women to become the best players they can be.”

It has been suggested that the NBA legend could help launch a new Saudi basketball league, similar to the LIV golf tour.

James isn’t the only sports star to have worked in the country, with a number of big-name footballers now playing there, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Neymar.

However, the players have been widely criticized due to the country’s human rights record, with many accusing Saudi Arabia of a “sporting shuffle”.

Now, James is being criticized for his work in the Middle Eastern country by journalist Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz, who was assassinated by Saudi government agents at the behest of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“Another disappointing development. It’s important to remember that athletes are more than athletes,” Cengiz told RadarOnline.com.

“They have a lot of fans following them. “It’s sad to see these people forget that they are morally exemplary as well when they make choices. “

AFP

AFP

Khashoggi, who lived in the United States and often advocated for equal rights in Saudi Arabia and was a frequent critic of his own government, was murdered in Saudi Arabia’s consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.