NBA & WNBA expand talent search with first UK camp
'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 Croatia.It is a similar path for many Europeans entering the NBA and WNBA.One 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 WNBA.Irene 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 Poland.There 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 place.The Atlanta Dream face the Seattle Storm in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday night.Could 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."
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