NBA to open global academy in Australia

CANBERRA -- The world's pre-eminent basketball league, the US National Basketball Association (NBA), said on Thursday that it will set up a global academy in Canberra, aimed at identifying and developing the region's best young players.

The academy, which will serve as a hub for top basketball prospects from the region, will be the NBA's fourth international training centre after having recently launched academies in the Chinese cities of Jinan, Hangzhou and Urumqi.

Anthony Moore, CEO of Basketball Australia (BA), said the center would operate from BA's existing Centre of Excellence at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS).

"Basketball Australia is thrilled to partner with the NBA on the development of promising young talent from around the world," Moore said.

"Our Center of Excellence has a wonderful track record of producing athletes who can compete on the world stage, and we welcome the opportunity to share our knowledge and experience with the NBA."

The NBA Academies initiative represents the world's foremost basketball league's most significant investment in player development.

Brooks Meek, vice president of International Basketball Operations at the NBA, said the association was excited to include Australia in its official international scouting network.

"NBA Global Academy will allow top prospects from around the world to train with and compete against their peers in a structured environment under the supervision of NBA-trained coaches and in collaboration with BA's internationally recognized coaches," Meek said.

"On behalf of the NBA, we look forward to working with Basketball Australia on this initiative and helping elite prospects reach their full potential."

Meek said the NBA Academy will look forward to developing players beyond their on-court skills, and focusing on education, leadership, character development and life skills.

The popularity of the NBA has surged in Australia in recent years in the wake of Australian prospects Ben Simmons, Dante Exum and Thon Maker all being drafted in the top 10 picks of the NBA draft.

Former number one pick Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova have faced off against each other in the past two NBA Finals, for the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, respectively.