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The National Basketball Association (NBA) of North America has announced that it plans to close its global academy in Australia, along with its Latin America academy in Mexico, as of next July.

The closures farm part of a wider academy restructure that will prioritise identifying and developing talent from larger, non-traditional basketball countries that do not have existing elite infrastructure. The academy programme will shift its focus towards markets such as Asia and the Middle East that are considered most essential for globalising the NBA, as well as increasing its long-term revenue.

While the academies in Australia and Mexico will be closed, the NBA plans to keep running its NBA Africa academy in Senegal, given it has developed a significant footprint in Africa.

The changes will see the League launch a new global academy, with a country in either Asia or the Middle East considered its most likely destination.

While it has yet to make a decision, ESPN reports that Abu Dhabi is a likely location given the presence of existing top-tier basketball infrastructure, along with local partners likely willing to invest in the venture.

Troy Justice, the NBA’s Head of International Basketball Operations, advised “we are evolving the NBA Academy program’s footprint as we continue discussions to launch a new global hub for top prospects from around the world.

“Given the existing basketball infrastructures in Australia and Latin America, we are shifting our elite basketball development efforts in those regions to multi-day events and programs, including Basketball Without Borders, that will continue to positively impact elite-level players.

 “We are incredibly proud of the NBA Academy’s impact and the successes of its student-athletes, and we look forward to continuing to provide impactful development opportunities to top prospects from Australia, Latin America and around the world.”

The NBA opened a global academy in Australia in 2017, and a year later launched its Latin American academy in Mexico City - with a dozen players currently housed at each academy.

Five NBA players have been produced from both academies, including Chicago Bulls ace Josh Giddey and Atlanta Hawks dynamo Dyson Daniels.

Should the league set up an academy in the United Arab Emirates, it would mark its latest step in developing a presence in the Middle Eastern country. It already plays pre-season games in Abu Dhabi, and its in-season tournament was recently re-named as the Emirates NBA Cup as part of a major commercial deal with the Dubai-based airline.

Image credit: Shutterstock.

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