NBA: 5 Potential Impacts Of Global Basketball Academies
By Adam McGee
With reports that the NBA is planning to start an initiative centered around global basketball academies, how can we expect to see the landscape of pro basketball change?
In terms of revenue, global reach and the quality of product on the floor, the NBA is thriving. The game is growing in popularity, outpacing many of its competitors and is well-positioned to keep growing in the coming years.
Looking to take advantage of that, recent reports suggest that the league has come up with a large scale global initiative that could change the landscape of the NBA as we know it.
First reported by The Vertical’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Jonathan Givony (also of DraftExpress), the NBA is said to be looking to take a more hands-on approach in the development and recruitment of international players from key foreign markets.
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"“The NBA’s mission is ambitious: Find the best young athletes on the planet – deliver them high-end training with a focus on fundamentals and education – and ultimately strengthen the league’s pool of potential players. The initial push of development academies is starting in Africa, China, India and Australia.”"
While the current details may seem somewhat vague, the impact this move could have on the shape of the NBA in the future is certainly significant.
With a mandate to develop and encourage the growth and development of young players from areas that may not otherwise afford players the opportunities to reach such heights, the NBA opens up all sorts of possibilities for a further improved product, even if it won’t all play to the advantage of young American players.
Whether it’s in the coming years or further into the future, let’s take a closer look at some of the potential impacts a successful global academy system could have on basketball across the world.