The decision to shut NBA Academy Africa has been described by former staff as a significant setback for students and emerging talent across the continent. The academy, launched in 2018, trained approximately 110 players, several of whom progressed to elite schools, universities and the NBA itself.
Former performance and lifestyle adviser Michel Chikwanine said the news had an immediate impact on the young athletes. “From the moment we told them, their confidence waned, their confidence dropped,” he told Reuters.
Michael Abbott, former head of academic planning, suggested the move reflected a prioritisation of the business model over long-term investment in the students.
In response, the NBA stated that the closure forms part of a broader realignment of its global development strategy. Academies in Mexico and Australia have also been closed, with all elite training now to be centred at a new global academy due to open in Abu Dhabi.
The league insisted the decision does not signal reduced commitment to African talent. It pointed to ongoing programmes including the Basketball Africa League, which has completed six seasons, and Basketball Without Borders camps.
Among the academy’s notable graduates are Cameroonian centre Ulrich Kamka Chomche, the first player from the programme to be drafted into the NBA in 2024, and South Sudan’s Khaman Maluach, selected 10th overall in the 2025 draft and now with the Phoenix Suns.
NBA senior vice president Troy Justice said the organisation remains “incredibly proud” of the academy’s impact and continues to invest in the next generation of African players through other youth development initiatives on the continent.