As part of the NBA’s efforts to grow its international footprint, the league has announced it will expand its international training centers to Africa.
Early next year, a location will open 40 miles from the Senegalese capital of Dakar. The center is designed for 16 to 18-year-old boys and girls to work on expanding their basketball skills.
This center will allow the league to scout talent throughout Africa. Once players are at the center, they can receive help from nutritionists, personal coaches, and physiotherapists.
This is the fourth area the NBA has opened such a facility. Three are already open in China, another one opened earlier this year in India, and the league plans on opening some facilities in Australia.
Africa has already been a place where certain NBA players have emerged. When the 2016-17 season opened, 14 African-born players were on NBA rosters, including Senegal native and Minnesota Timberwolves big man Gorgui Dieng.
Overall, this seems like another positive move for the already progressive league. It also seems smart for the center to also allow women. While not all of the players might make it onto NBA and WNBA rosters, it’s a nice effort by the league to give some kids an opportunity they might not normally get.
[BBC]
