VEF Rīga ready to bypass agent Kalnītis by signing his players directly

VEF Rīga basketball club president Edgars Jaunups has publicly criticized agent Artūrs Kalnītis after it emerged that several American players represented by his agency, Baltic Sports Agency, have recently signed with Russian clubs. Among them is forward Curtis Hollis, who played for both Valmiera Glass/ViA and VEF Rīga last season.

The Latvian Basketball Union (LBS) had earlier stated it has no way to influence the agent's actions, since his company is registered in the United Arab Emirates. Latvian national team players Rihards Lomažs and Roberts Blumbergs said they personally would not consider offers from Russian clubs, though they stopped short of a firm stance on their agent's conduct.

Jaunups' response

In a social media post, Jaunups stressed that VEF Rīga has consistently opposed any cooperation with Russian sport since the war began, arguing that sport serves as a propaganda tool for Russia, and that the club does not sign foreign players who have played in Russia since the invasion started. He said the club has suspended its cooperation with Kalnītis, calling the agent's actions a sad and shameful precedent for Latvian basketball.

Jaunups revealed that in the coming days the club may reach an agreement with one of Kalnītis's clients, negotiating directly with the player and excluding any role or payment for the agent. He also called on other former and current Latvian basketball players, as well as the LBS, to take a firmer and more principled stance, warning that the agent's actions may not only be unethical but could also violate the law, with possible consequences for his business partners.