Basketball is without borders in Africa

2014 BASKETBALL without Borders (BWB) returned to Johannesburg, featuring some of the top coaches and former players who will be conducting the coaching clinics.

The programme in Johannesburg started on Tuesday August 5 at the American International School in Johannesburg, where basketball players from within South Africa and Africa will participate.

National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) will extend their skills to these players in the format of coaching clinics and fitness tests, which will be conducted by recognised and well known international basketball players.

Basketball without Borders, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development programme, has reached 2 100 campers from more than 120 countries, with 29 BWB campers drafted into the NBA.

BWB Europe will start the summer schedule from June 2 to 5 in Rome. Highlighting the camps with three current Italian NBA players and former BWB campers: Danilo Gallinari (BWB 2003, Denver Nuggets), Andrea Bargnani (BWB 2003, New York Knicks), and the Italian national team captain Gigi Datome (BWB 2003, Detroit Pistons).

In addition, Brandon Knight (Milwaukee Bucks) and Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks) also participated. BWB Europe 2014 will bring together the top 50 players born in 1997 from more than 25 European countries. The camp was held previously in Treviso, Italy in 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

While BWB Asia happened in Taipei from June 13 to 16. John Salmons (Toronto Raptors), Ronny Turiaf (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Cody Zeller (Charlotte Bobcats) participated. Eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming will make a one-day appearance. BWB Asia 2014 will bring together the top 50 players born in 1996 or 1997 from more than 20 Asian and Oceanic countries.

BWB Africa returned to Johannesburg for the 11th time from August 5 to 8. The camp will be led by former All-Star Andrei Kirilenko (Brooklyn Nets) and Thabo Sefolosha (Oklahoma City Thunder), along with NBA head coaches Dwane Casey (Toronto Raptors), Brian Shaw (Denver Nuggets) and NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo. BWB Africa 2014 will bring together the top 60 African players born in 1997 or 1998 from more than 20 African countries.

“Basketball without Borders helped me become the player and man I am today, both on and off the court,” said Gallinari. “Learning basketball and life skills from NBA players and coaches is a special opportunity that I greatly appreciated in 2003, and that I know this year’s campers will greatly appreciate. I look forward to bringing the amazing BWB program back to Italy with some of my fellow countrymen, and to coaching some of the most talented teenagers in Europe. I can’t wait to get started.”

“This is what we need in South Africa to help this popular sport grow,” said Minister of Sport and Recreation, Mr Fikile Mbalula, “ We will benefit from this camp and we can enhance our skills from a young age. Basketball has a lot of followers in the country, and we need to grow the sport by this kind of camps.”

Through NBA Cares, the league’s global social responsibility program, all three camps will include extensive community outreach efforts led by NBA players and coaches. Through grassroots basketball development, community service and life skill seminars, BWB will focus on teaching the values of the game, including leadership, respect, character and health and wellness. In addition, donations of school supplies, clothing, books, games, basketball equipment and other necessities will be made to local community-based organisations.

Since its inception, the NBA and FIBA have staged 36 BWB camps in 20 cities across 18 countries on five continents. More than 150 different current and former NBA/WNBA players have joined nearly 140 NBA team personnel from all 30 NBA teams.