NBA
NBA AM: NBA Continues to Grow Global Reach
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
NBA Continues to Grow Global Reach
The NBA continues to expand its global reach, as the first Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas camp will be held next week in the Dominican Republic, August 16-19.
Al Horford, Charlie Villanueva, Corey Brewer and Luc Mbah a Moute will join former NBA players Francisco Garcia, Tito Horford and Felipe Lopez to headline the camp. Coaches will include Melvin Hunt, Brett Gunning, Darvin Ham, Patrick Hunt and Nick U’ren.
The camp will host 51 top basketball players born in 1998 from 18 countries in North and South America.
Al Horford, son of Tito, was born and raised in the Dominican Republic. He moved from there to live with Tito in Michigan and play high school basketball in the United States.
“The sport of basketball has afforded me many opportunities throughout my life,” Al said in a statement. “It’s a privilege to return home to share the values of the game with the campers and work in the Dominican Republic.”
Last season Horford discussed his transition to American with Basketball Insiders, explaining, “I would say coming here (as a teenager) is an advantage, especially going to college and developing. If not, you’re looking at maybe going to Europe and it would be a longer road to get here. I would recommend it, definitely.”
Villanueva’s parents are also from the Dominican Republic. “La Fundacion de Charlie Villanueva Basketball Camp” will hold a basketball clinic in their hometown, Cabrera.
There have been five players born in the Dominican Republic to play in the NBA. Horford is currently the only one still in the league.
This summer, BWB also held its 13th BWB Africa camp in Johannesburg, South Africa. It was highlighted by the first Team Africa vs. Team World game, which featured players born in Africa, second-generation African players, and players from the rest of the world.
In addition, BWB hosted its inaugural camp in Gran Canaria, Spain for BWB Europe 2015.
Since 2001, BWB has reached over 2,400 campers from more than 125 countries and territories.
Jordan, Paul Move Past Free Agency Drama
As the 2015-16 NBA season nears, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul are ready to put the drama of this summer behind them. During Jordan’s free agency, reports surfaced of tension between the two Los Angeles Clippers stars. After Jordan memorably decided against leaving the Clippers for the Dallas Mavericks, he and Paul discussed the noise surrounding the situation and moved on from it.
“We went through a lot of stuff this summer, man,” Jordan told reporters at Team USA’s minicamp, according to the Los Angeles Times. “Things that people said that I said about him, things that people said he said about me, which, none of them were true because we talked about it.”
Added Paul, “The things that were said in there were things that probably needed to be said and we moved on. Me and D.J. are actually really close. We talk all the time.”
First Look at Rookies
The 2015 Draft Class got a look into their new lives at the NBA Rookie Photo Shoot. This week, the first-year players have been sharing pictures donning their new uniforms on social media.
