DUBAI: When Vlade Divac entered the National Basketball Association BA in 1989, international players were still a relative rarity.
More than three decades later, some of the NBA’s biggest stars are international, from Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic to Victor Wembanyama.
And this week, in Istanbul, Divac has had an up-close look at some of those hoping to form the next generation.
The Serbian NBA legend is among the current and former players and coaches mentoring 78 leading high-school-age prospects from 44 countries and territories across six continents at the inaugural Men’s Basketball Without Borders Next Up camp, which runs from Aug. 26-29 at Istanbul’s Basketbol Gelisim Merkezi.
“There is obviously a lot of talent out here, so it’s exciting to work with participants to give them a lead and make sure that they’re ready one day to hopefully become a part of the NBA,” Divac told Arab News.
