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BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
NBA & WNBA expand talent search with first UK camp
For most young basketball hopefuls, the closest they will get to learning from the sport's biggest names is by watching a YouTube video of them playing or seven Britons, this week in Manchester has been a rare shooting while being marked by Los Angeles centre Ivica Zubac to being guided by Philadelphia 76ers head coach Nick Nurse, the first Basketball Without Borders camp to take place in the UK has the potential to be was at a camp like this in Latvia where Amari Williams - drafted this year by the Boston Celtics to become only the NBA's third English-born active player - was camp coming to Britain for the first time was part of the NBA's continued push to grow the following of and participation in basketball in the country. It also followed last month's announcement that the UK will host its first NBA regular-season games since 2019 with a match in London in 2026 and Manchester in 2027."We can virtually guarantee that a handful or more of the players sitting out there today will be in the [NBA and WNBA]," Nurse told BBC Sport, during the four-day camp where the Britons taking part were among Europe's 60 highest-rated teenagers."It's an amazing event, it always is. I've been fortunate enough to be a part of it before, but when they said they were coming to Manchester, I wanted to be a part of it."That's always exciting to see them at this stage, and then down the line say, 'I remember we had them in Manchester in the camp'. Always happens. It's exciting to be among the most talented young players in the world."American Nurse played in the British Basketball League for Derby Rams in the 1990-91 season, and had coaching spells at Birmingham Bullets, Manchester Giants, London Towers and Brighton Bears before rising to land NBA posts with Toronto Raptors and the event in Manchester, in which both current and former players and coaches from the NBA and WNBA were involved, is designed to help aspiring basketball stars of high school ages outside of the United States get valuable first-hand coaching and BWB camps also run across Asia, Africa and The Americas. The best performing players from the four camps combined are then selected to attend another BWB camp for the world's best young players that take place during the NBA and WNBA All-Star from all 30 NBA teams are in attendance to cast their eyes over the young hopefuls. 'A huge boost' - NBA's return to Britain Almost a decade ago, Los Angeles Clippers centre Zubac was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers having played professionally as a teenager in Serbia and his homeland is a similar path for many Europeans entering the NBA and of the camp's aims is to scout the best talents outside of the US from a young age."I never really had a chance to participate [in these camps] as a kid but I would've loved to," said Zubac, 28."I think getting advice, knowledge and experience from the NBA players, NBA coaches, all the basketball legends here, some of who have won a lot of championships, it's very valuable and I think it's going to be really helpful."NBA's 2024-25 Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is among the current stars who have attended BWB camps, as well as 2022-23 MVP Joel Embiid and 23-year-old Williams.A total of 129 players who have attended the camps, including 41 currently in NBA starting teams, have gone on to play in either the NBA or Oboavwoduo, from Manchester, hopes this might happen for her too and first aiming for a US college route to help her chances. "It's pretty hard because basketball is not as big in England, but basketball is expanding in the UK," said the 17-year-old. "I'm glad I've been able to do this as an experience for exposure."Nurse believes the return of NBA matches to the UK can only help the sport grow."The NBA and the WNBA are certainly turning into international leagues. There are players from all over the world now," he said."It's a huge boost. When the NBA brings its brand and brings its star power, bringing NBA players certainly draws a lot of attention."Williams' arrival to the NBA will make him the fourth active Briton in the league alongside OG Anunoby, Tosan Evbuomwan and Jeremy Sochan, although Sochan plays internationally for are currently only two British players in the WNBA - Temi Fagbenle and Elizabeth Williams, who play for the Golden State Valkyries and Chicago Sky respectively,That is despite basketball currently being the second-most popular team sport in the UK, with one-and-a-half million participants on a weekly basis. Will WNBA games be held in UK? The topic of top-level basketball heading outside the United States comes in a week where the first WNBA game to be held internationally takes Atlanta Dream face the Seattle Storm in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday that lead to a future WNBA match in the UK?"That's always a possibility," said two-time WNBA champion Sylvia Fowles, who is also part of the BWB's coaching staff."I want to see the WNBA everywhere."It says a lot to have WNBA players here [at the camp], so hopefully it trickles down so that we can get games here - and I think would be pretty."
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Chelsea hand key figures bumper new deals amid Club World Cup and European success - and their role in spending £2BILLION reshaping Blues' squad since 2022 takeover
Chelsea have parlayed their faith in a number of their leadership team by handing key members of the club hierarchy contract extensions. The Blues are experiencing an upswing in momentum after a positive end to the last Premier League season saw them finish fourth - and return to Champions League football after three terms - and secure the UEFA Conference League trophy. The west London side then jetted to the United States to play the Club World Cup in a continuation of their season, securing the revamped trophy and an enormous £84.4million prize pot with a thumping 3-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey last month. Enzo Maresca has been hard at work reshaping the team to his preferred image in the transfer market, recruiting stars such as Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Jorrel Hato to join his revamped side. But the club have managed to secure critical outgoings too, with Armando Broja, Joao Felix, Noni Madueke, and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall among those to have moved on. Amid this purple patch, a number of Stamford Bridge's major deal-makers have been rewarded for the work they have carried out over the last few seasons. Sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, and recruitment heads Joe Shields and Sam Jewell have all signed new agreements which are set to keep them in west London until at least 2031. The six-year extensions are thought to reflect their commitment to the club's mission and the new deals, as with their previous contracts, are believed to be filled with performance incentives as the Blues continue to chase down trophies following their period in the wilderness. Winstanley and Stewart's January 2023 start-date came relatively soon after the Todd Boehly-Clearlake Capital takeover in May of 2022, with Shields the first to join up with the new regime later than year. Jewell joined the club's leadership group in 2024, and under the aegis of the four men, the club's new strategy of sustainability in recruitment and development is now in full effect. As per Telegraph Sport, since the summer of 2022, Chelsea have spent a staggering £2billion, but around £800-900m has been earned in player sales in the opposite direction. Standout signings spearheaded by the Blues' leadership team have included Cole Palmer, Moises Caicedo, and Enzo Fernandez, as well as women's team manager Sonia Bompastor, and Enzo Maresca. Chelsea have carved out a reputation for handing players bumper multi-year deals, and another cornerstone of the strategy that the leadership team have created is centred around the 'three pillars' of quality, mentality, and playing experience. Bringing important figures such as Enzo Maresca and Cole Palmer to Stamford Bridge has been a key part of their new strategy The Blues have been a markedly young side for a number of seasons, with Tosin Adarabioyo the proverbial veteran in the squad at the age of just 27. However, a number of younger stars like Palmer have now accrued vital Premier League experience, helping fuel Chelsea's belief in signing emerging talents. Among those to arrive at Stamford Bridge this summer is teenager Estevao Willian, who was signed for the club last summer, but played his final at Brazilian side Palmeiras before joining up with Chelsea after his 18th birthday. Maresca's side will be keen to back up a strong - if shortened - pre-season in their opening match of the season on Sunday, against Community Shield winners Crystal Palace.
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Roma emerge as loan suitors for Jadon Sancho — but Manchester United seek sale
Roma want to take Jadon Sancho on loan for the season, though Manchester United would prefer to sell the £73m winger. The Serie A club have registered a strong interest in the England international, who is surplus to requirements at Old Trafford and was part of the 'bomb squad' who were not allowed to train with United's first team in pre-season and were excluded from the pre-season tour of the United States. And United are trying to bring in money by selling some of their unwanted attackers after spending £200m on new forwards. They had agreed to sell Sancho to Chelsea for £25m as part of a loan move that saw him spend last season at Stamford Bridge but the London club paid a £5m penalty clause to opt out of buying him. Sancho has not played a league game for United since August 2023, though he did appear in the Community Shield last summer. After falling out with former manager Erik ten Hag in 2023, when he was banished to train with United's Under-18s, he went back to Borussia Dortmund on loan for the second half of the season, helping them reach the Champions League final. While Ruben Amorim has since replaced Ten Hag, United have moved on from Sancho, who is in the last year of his contract. United have brought in Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, each for at least £62.5m, but they are yet to recoup any money in selling the four attackers who they said asked to leave Old Trafford Marcus Rashford has joined Barcelona on loan for the season, with the La Liga champions paying his wages. Chelsea are interested in Alejandro Garnacho and Real Betis want Antony, after his successful loan spell there last season, but no deal is imminent for either winger. Nevertheless, there is an expectation each will leave before the end of the transfer window.
