NBA don shut di only elite training academy wey dem get for Africa, one facility wey dem launch for Senegal for 2018 to develop promising players for professional leagues abroad. Two former employees say di decision to close NBA Academy Africa don shake students and young prospects across di continent.
Michel Chikwanine, wey don be di academy performance and lifestyle adviser, say di news land hard ontop di young players. "From di moment wey we tell dem, dia confidence wane, dia confidence drop," e tok. Michael Abbott, former head of academic planning, add: "Dem no invest for dem as kids as much as dem invest for di business model."
NBA Academy Africa don train about 110 students since e launch, according to Abbott, with many move go elite schools and universities for US. Cameroonian Ulrich Kamka Chomche become di first graduate wey dem draft enter NBA for 2024, as e join Toronto Raptors, while South Sudan own Khaman Maluach dey play for Phoenix Suns.
NBA say di closure show say dem don shift dia global basketball development strategy, as dem point to academies wey dem don already close for Mexico and Australia. All training go now dey run from one new global academy wey go open for Abu Dhabi, di league tok, as African prospects go need to compete globally for spots there.
Chikwanine criticize di move, as e say NBA approach dey reinforce one message wey plenti Africans dey feel. "Dem dey come with extraction mindset," e tok. Troy Justice, NBA senior vice president, say di league dey "incredibly proud" of di academy impact and e point to Basketball Africa League, wey don pass six seasons now, and Basketball Without Borders as evidence say dem still dey invest for di continent.
