Nigerian-born former England international, John Amaechi has given a voice of support to the expansion for USA’s National Basketball Association (NBA) games taking place in various European cities.
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Sports247 report that Amaechi, who played for Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers and Utah Jazz in the NBA, reckons that the high-profile basketball league has the potential to draw huge crowds anywhere.
He went on to express optimism that NBA Europe has the power to deliver long-standing change for British basketball and inspire the next generation in the country of his birth to try the giants’ sport.
This is sequel to reports that the NBA is looking at London and Manchester as potential venues for its games, following an announcement in December that it is setting up a pan-European men’s basketball league.
The project, which is being prosecuted with International Basketball Federation (FIBA), is set to start as early as next year, and Amaechi believes it would mark the beginning of an important new chapter for the game in Britain.
Amaechi added, “I have a feeling that things are going to change. The access, the training, the coaching standards, all of that is really important.
“I would see the NBA Europe thing as an opportunity where less exists. I think there is a real chance here to create teams around which entire communities of basketball can grow.
“Maybe other countries don’t need that as well as we do, but we need that, and I think every country will benefit.”
