NBA Closes Senegal Academy as Global Basketball Development Strategy Moves Toward Abu Dhabi
The NBA has closed its elite basketball academy in Senegal, ending a programme that spent almost a decade developing young African players for professional careers in the United States and other international leagues.
NBA Academy Africa opened in 2018 and has trained around 110 students, according to former academy officials cited by Reuters. Several graduates went on to US universities and professional basketball, including players who later reached the NBA.
The league says the closure is part of a broader change in its international development strategy rather than a withdrawal from Africa.
A programme that produced NBA players
The Senegal academy was created to identify and develop promising young basketball players from across the continent.
Among its graduates was Khaman Maluach of South Sudan, who was selected 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft and now plays in the league.
Cameroon’s Ulrich Kamka Chomche also became an NBA player after being developed through the programme and was drafted in 2024.
For young players from countries where professional basketball infrastructure is limited, the academy offered access to elite coaching, education and high-level training facilities.
Abu Dhabi becomes the new global hub
The NBA says its international academy system is being reorganised around a new Global Academy in Abu Dhabi.
The league has previously closed academy operations in Mexico and Australia and is now concentrating the programme in the United Arab Emirates.
According to the NBA, bringing players together at a single location will allow prospects to train with elite coaches and gain exposure to scouts and professional organisations from around the world.
The change represents a shift from a geographically distributed model toward a more centralised development structure.
Concerns over opportunities for African players
Former academy staff have expressed concerns about the impact on young African players.
Michel Chikwanine, who worked as a performance and lifestyle adviser, said the closure affected the confidence of students who were informed about the decision.
Former academic planning head Michael Abbott also questioned whether moving the programme away from Africa would provide the same level of access to players who cannot easily travel internationally.
The NBA has rejected the suggestion that the closure represents a reduction in its commitment to African talent.
The league points to the Basketball Africa League and Basketball Without Borders as examples of programmes that continue to operate across the continent.
Africa remains important to the NBA
The NBA has invested heavily in Africa during the past decade.
The Basketball Africa League has completed six seasons and has become a significant part of the continent’s professional basketball structure.
African players have also become increasingly visible in the NBA itself.
The success of players such as Maluach demonstrates the potential of long-term development programmes, while the continued expansion of African basketball provides the league with a growing talent pool.
A new model for talent development
The closure of the Senegal academy does not end the NBA’s work in Africa, but it changes how young players may access the league’s elite development system.
The new model places greater emphasis on centralised international training.
Whether that structure can provide the same opportunities as a locally based academy will become clearer as the Abu Dhabi programme develops.
For African basketball, the immediate challenge is ensuring that talented young players continue to have accessible routes into elite competition.
For the NBA, the broader objective remains unchanged: identify and develop players capable of reaching the highest levels of professional basketball.
