The NBA has closed NBA Academy Africa in Senegal, ending the operations of its only elite training academy on the continent less than a decade after it opened.
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The academy was launched in 2018 to prepare promising young African players for professional opportunities in the United States and elsewhere. The NBA said the decision forms part of a change in its global basketball development strategy.
Under the new approach, training will be consolidated at a global academy expected to open soon in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The NBA said concentrating training in one location would give young players greater exposure to professional coaches and scouts from around the world.
Former staff raise concerns
Former academy employees have questioned the impact of the closure on students and the wider development of African basketball talent.
Michel Chikwanine, a former performance and lifestyle adviser at the academy, said the decision discouraged players who were beginning to build confidence. “From the moment we told them, their confidence waned, their confidence dropped,” he said.
Chikwanine also argued that the closure would limit opportunities for African players, who would now have to compete globally for places at the Abu Dhabi academy. He said many Africans associate large companies operating on the continent with an “extraction mindset” and described a broader mistrust that has developed over time.
Michael Abbott, the academy’s former head of academic planning, said the decision demonstrated what he viewed as insufficient commitment to the students. “They weren’t invested in them as kids as much as they were invested in the business model,” Abbott said.
Record of player development
Abbott said NBA Academy Africa trained about 110 students after its launch in Senegal. Many went on to elite schools and universities in the United States, while the most successful progressed to the NBA.
Ulrich Kamka Chomche of Cameroon became the first academy player drafted into the NBA in 2024 and played for the Toronto Raptors. Another former student, Khaman Maluach of South Sudan, plays for the Phoenix Suns.
The NBA has previously closed academies in Mexico and Australia. Its plan to centralize training in Abu Dhabi is therefore part of a wider restructuring of its academy network.
NBA defends commitment to Africa
The NBA said closing the Senegal academy should not be interpreted as a reduced commitment to African talent. The organization pointed to the Basketball Africa League, which has completed six seasons, and Basketball Without Borders, which runs elite camps for young people worldwide, including in Africa.
Troy Justice, an NBA senior vice president, said the organization was proud of the academy’s impact and remained committed to developing the next generation of African players.
The NBA said other youth-development initiatives also continue to operate across Africa. However, the closure has left differing views over whether a single academy in Abu Dhabi will expand access to professional opportunities or make it harder for African prospects to receive specialized support close to home.
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