NBA closes its only elite training academy in Africa, in Senegal
The NBA has closed NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, its only elite academy on the continent, saying training will move to a new global academy in Abu Dhabi. Two former staff say the closure hurts young African players; the NBA says its commitment to Africa is unchanged.
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The story, neutrally told
The NBA has closed NBA Academy Africa, its only elite training academy in Africa, less than a decade after it launched in Senegal to prepare young African players for professional leagues in the United States and elsewhere. CNAN “The NBA has closed its only elite training academy in Africa, current and former officials told Reuters” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “less than a decade after it was launched in Senegal to prepare promising young African players for professional leagues in the United States and elsewhere” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Responding to questions from Reuters, the NBA said the decision reflected a shift in global basketball development strategy. It has previously closed academies in Mexico and Australia, and all training will be run from a new global academy opening soon in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates. CNAN “the NBA said the decision reflected a shift in global basketball development strategy. It has previously closed academies in Mexico and Australia.” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “All training will be run out of a new global academy to open soon in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, it said.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ Two former employees said the closure was a blow to students and young players across the continent. Michel Chikwanine, the academy's former performance and lifestyle adviser, said players' confidence dropped when they were told, and that African prospects will now have to compete globally for places in the UAE. CNAN “"From the moment we told them, their confidence waned, their confidence dropped," he said.” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “All African prospects will have to compete globally for spots in the UAE.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Michael Abbott, the former head of academic planning, said the closure showed a lack of commitment to the students, who he said were valued less than the business model. Chikwanine said it reinforced a feeling among many Africans that big companies come to the continent with an "extraction mindset" and just want to make money. CNAN “"They weren't invested in them as kids as much as they were invested in the business model," he said.” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC ““They come in with an extraction mindset,” he said.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ The NBA denied that closing the academy would limit opportunities for young African players, saying that hosting everyone at one site would give them more exposure to professional coaches and scouts worldwide. Troy Justice, an NBA senior vice president, said the league is proud of the academy's impact and remains committed to developing African players. CNAN “It said hosting all young players at a single location would give them greater exposure to professional coaches and scouts worldwide.” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “remain committed to developing the next generation of African players,” Troy Justice, NBA senior vice president, said in a statement” Read at Al Jazeera ↗ The league said it continues to invest in African talent through other programmes, citing the Basketball Africa League, which has completed six seasons, and Basketball Without Borders, which runs elite youth camps including in Africa. CNAN “It cited examples such as the creation of a Basketball Africa League which has concluded six seasons and Basketball Without Borders” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “several other youth development initiatives still operate on the continent” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
According to Abbott, the academy trained about 110 students from its 2018 launch, many of whom went on to elite US schools and universities. Cameroon's Ulrich Kamka Chomche became the first graduate drafted into the NBA, in 2024, and played for the Toronto Raptors; South Sudan's Khaman Maluach, a former student, plays for the Phoenix Suns. CNAN “NBA Academy Africa has trained around 110 students since launching in Senegal in 2018, Abbott said” Read at CNA ↗ Al JazeeraLC “Former academy student Khaman Maluach of South Sudan plays for the Phoenix Suns.” Read at Al Jazeera ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Leads with the NBA's New Global academy in Abu Dhabi and closures in Africa, Mexico and Australia, framing the closure as a blow to young players. The text closely follows Reuters reporting.
- Emphasis
- The Abu Dhabi focus in the standfirst, and former staff's criticism alongside the NBA's response.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No independent comment beyond the Reuters sources.
- Charged language
- “blow to young players”“extraction mindset”
- For example
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“NBA says its focus is on new global academy opening in Abu Dhabi as Africa, Mexico and Australia hit by closures.” — Al Jazeera
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Reuters copy carried by CNA, leading with the closure and its effect on young African players, as told by former staff, then the NBA's response.
- Emphasis
- Former employees' accounts and the NBA's rebuttal in roughly equal measure.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No independent voices beyond the Reuters sources, such as students or Senegalese officials.
- Charged language
- “blow to young players”“extraction mindset”
- For example
-
“The decision to close NBA Academy Africa, the league's first such facility in Africa, was a blow to students and young players across the continent, two former employees said.” — CNA
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The NBA has closed NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, its only elite academy in Africa.
- Training will move to a new global academy in Abu Dhabi.
- The NBA has previously closed academies in Mexico and Australia.
- Two former employees criticised the closure; the NBA says its commitment to Africa is undiminished.
Where accounts differ
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Whether closing the academy limits opportunities for young African players
- Left
- Al Jazeera reports Chikwanine saying it will limit opportunities, and the NBA denying this, without comment of its own.
- Centre
- CNA reports Chikwanine saying it will limit opportunities, and the NBA denying this, without comment of its own.
NBA organisation
Says the closure reflects a shift in global development strategy, that a single Abu Dhabi site gives players more exposure to coaches and scouts, and that its commitment to Africa is undiminished.
“closing the academy does not signal a diminished commitment to the continent” — CNA
“remain committed to developing the next generation of African players” — Al Jazeera
NBA Academy Africa organisation
Per former staff, the academy trained about 110 students since 2018, produced NBA draftees, and its closure hurts confidence and opportunities for African players.
“NBA Academy Africa has trained around 110 students since launching in Senegal in 2018, Abbott said” — CNA
“closing the academy will limit opportunities for African players” — Al Jazeera
Left1 article
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NBA closes sole Africa training academy in blow to young players
Mixed Near-identical account that adds a standfirst on the Abu Dhabi focus and closures in Africa, Mexico and Australia.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
NBA closes sole training academy in Africa in blow to young players
Mixed Reuters copy via CNA presenting former staff's criticism followed by the NBA's rebuttal.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 1 Oct 12:41 First CNAN NBA closes sole training academy in Africa in blow to young players
- 2 Oct 10:26 +21h 45m Al JazeeraLC NBA closes sole Africa training academy in blow to young players
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.