NBA closes sole training academy in Africa in blow to young players
The league said the move will centralize training at a new global academy and continue other African development programs.
- On Thursday, the NBA closed its only elite training academy in Africa, located in Senegal since 2018. The facility had prepared promising young players for professional leagues worldwide.
- Consolidating young players in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, reflects the league's shift in global basketball development strategy. The NBA said hosting all players at one location provides greater exposure to professional coaches and scouts worldwide.
- Since 2018, NBA Academy Africa trained around 110 students, with graduates including Ulrich Kamka Chomche of Cameroon, who played for the Toronto Raptors, and Khaman Maluach of South Sudan, now with the Phoenix Suns.
- Performance adviser Michel Chikwanine and former academic head Michael Abbott criticized the closure, arguing it discourages players and removes support for those from challenging backgrounds. Two former employees called the decision a blow to students across the continent.
- The NBA maintains commitment to African talent through the Basketball Africa League and other initiatives. Critics contend the closure reinforces perceptions that companies prioritize profit over people, deepening existing mistrust on the continent.
13 Articles
13 Articles
NBA closes its only African elite academy in Senegal as new training hub moves to Abu Dhabi
The NBA has closed its only elite basketball training academy in Africa, ending a Senegal-based programme that helped young players from across the continent prepare for opportunities in professional basketball.
NBA closes sole training academy in Africa in blow to young players
DAKAR NBA is the best player in the world. Odluka o zatvaranju NBA […] Objava NBA zatvorila svoju jedinu elitenu academy za obuku u Africi pojavila se prvi puta na Novi list.
NBA Closes Its Only Elite Training Academy In Africa As Development Strategy Shifts To Abu Dhabi
The NBA has closed its only elite training academy in Africa, ending a program in Senegal that had spent nearly a decade identifying and developing some of the continent’s most promising young basketball players.
The NBA has closed its only elite training academy in Africa, less than a decade after its launch in Senegal, where the goal was to prepare promising young African basketball players for professional leagues in the US. The decision to close the NBA Academy in Africa (NBA Academy Africa), the league's first such facility on that continent, was a blow to the participants [...]
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 71% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
