The NBA continues to further attempts to expand expand into new territories and recruit talent by launching its initial African academy as revealed in December 2016. The academy which is based in Senegal is amongst those opened by the world’s top basketball league following projects in China and future projects in Australia and India.
While foreigners continue to take over the league, with this season setting record numbers, only 14 Africans have managed to make it into the league. NBA Africa VP and Managing Director revealed that the hope is for the academy to lead to a direct pathway for more African talent to the league. “The goal of the NBA Academy Africa is to create a more direct path for young people who have talent so that their future is not determined by chance,” he said.
As part of the league’s commitment to establishing an African market, the second African NBA game shall hold on August 5th in Johannesburg and feature Congolese talents, Bismack Biyombo and Emmanuel Mudiay.
Source: Reuters