Metro

NBA backs Nets buyer

The NBA threw an elbow at a New Jersey congressman yesterday, claiming he was “misinformed” when he blasted the Russian billionaire who wants to buy the Nets over his business dealings in Zimbabwe.

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) wrote to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner asking him to investigate Mikhail Prokhorov’s association with Zimbabwe’s oppressive regime to see if he violated US sanctions against that country.

But league spokesman Mike Bass fired back, saying, “Congressman Pascrell was misinformed. US. companies are not prohibited from doing business in Zimbabwe; rather, they are prohibited from conducting business with specifically identified individuals or entities in that country.”

Bass said there’s no indication Prokhorov dealt with any of those people or entities. Prokhorov’s representatives said his company has always strictly complied with US rules regarding Zimbabwe.

The Nets are planning to move to a new arena in Brooklyn.