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Sport

NBA closes sole Africa academy in blow to young players

The NBA has closed NBA Academy Africa, its only elite training academy on the continent, consolidating elite training at a new global academy in Abu Dhabi — a move former staff say blows young African players' confidence.

By Tom Ellery · · 1 min read

The NBA has closed its only elite training academy in Africa, less than a decade after launching it in Senegal, current and former officials told Reuters. (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/2/nba-closes-sole-africa-training-academy-in-blow-to-young-players)

NBA Academy Africa opened in 2018 to prepare promising young players for professional leagues in the US and elsewhere. About 110 students trained there, and many moved on to elite schools and universities in the US, said former academic head Michael Abbott. (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/2/nba-closes-sole-africa-training-academy-in-blow-to-young-players)

Its most successful graduates reached the NBA: Cameroon’s Ulrich Kamka Chomche, first drafted in 2024, who played for the Toronto Raptors, and former student Khaman Maluach of South Sudan, who plays for the Phoenix Suns. (https://froggyweb.com/2026/10/01/nba-closes-sole-training-academy-in-africa-in-blow-to-young-players/)

Two former employees called the closure a blow. Performance and lifestyle adviser Michel Chikwanine said players’ confidence dropped when they were told the news, and accused the league of an “extraction mindset” toward Africa. Abbott said: “They weren’t invested in them as kids as much as they were invested in the business model.” (https://froggyweb.com/2026/10/01/nba-closes-sole-training-academy-in-africa-in-blow-to-young-players/)

The NBA said the closure reflected a shift in global development strategy, with training consolidated at a new global academy opening soon in Abu Dhabi. It has previously closed academies in Mexico and Australia. The league denied it limits opportunities, saying one location gives players greater exposure to coaches and scouts. “We’re incredibly proud of the impact that NBA Academy Africa has had,” said NBA senior vice president Troy Justice. It cited the Basketball Africa League, now in its sixth season, and Basketball Without Borders as continuing investment. (https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2026/10/2/nba-closes-sole-africa-training-academy-in-blow-to-young-players)

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