Abu Dhabi Hosts First-Ever NBA Academy Select Showcase for Young Basketball Talent
Abu Dhabi’s relationship with the NBA is expanding beyond hosting major games, with the emirate now playing a bigger role in identifying and developing the next generation of basketball talent.
The first-ever NBA Academy Select Showcase was held at NYU Abu Dhabi from 23 to 26 September 2026, bringing together 36 promising high-school-age basketball players from across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia.
Organised by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi), the four-day programme combined elite coaching, skills development and competitive games designed to identify standout young players.
36 Young Basketball Players From 15 Countries
The inaugural Abu Dhabi showcase brought together 36 prospects representing 15 countries, giving young athletes an opportunity to train and compete in front of experienced NBA coaches and former players.
Participants took part in development sessions covering different aspects of their game before competing in exhibition matches.
The coaching line-up included five-time NBA champion Ron Harper and two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson.
They were joined by experienced NBA assistant coaches Damian Cotter, Dan Craig, Henry Domercant and James Wade.
For young players, the programme provided more than a competitive tournament. It offered exposure to coaching and development methods used within professional basketball.
Chicago Bulls Team Wins the Championship Game
The four-day showcase concluded with a championship game between two teams named after the Chicago Bulls and San Antonio Spurs.
The NBA Academy Select Showcase team representing the Chicago Bulls secured the title with a 42-23 victory over the San Antonio Spurs team.
Several individual players were also recognised following the final.
Nigeria’s Stephen Edwin was named MVP of the inaugural NBA Academy Select Showcase, while Côte d’Ivoire’s Nathan Djako received the Defensive MVP award.
India’s Shekar Rathee won the Three-Point Contest and was also selected for the All-Select Showcase Team.
NBA Academy Select Showcase 2026 Award Winners
The All-Select Showcase Team included Nathan Djako of Côte d’Ivoire, Stephen Edwin of Nigeria, Shekar Rathee of India, Mahdi Baqer of Bahrain and Yahya Ammar of Egypt.
The 3v3 competition was won by Jock James of Bahrain, Shekar Rathee and Arman Arman of India, and Ismail Hassini of Morocco.
The mix of nationalities represented among the winners reflects the wider regional scope of the Abu Dhabi programme, which was designed to identify talent across three major regions rather than from a single basketball market.
Abu Dhabi’s NBA Partnership Expands Into Youth Development
The NBA Academy Select Showcase forms part of a broader partnership between the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi focused on developing basketball at different levels.
While Abu Dhabi has become increasingly visible internationally through major NBA events, grassroots participation and player development are another important part of the relationship.
The development framework goes beyond shooting, passing and other technical basketball skills.
Young athletes are introduced to physical conditioning, injury prevention, nutrition, mental performance, basketball IQ and character development, creating a more complete pathway towards elite-level competition.
The NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi are also supporting a structured framework that allows young athletes to progress from beginner levels towards elite competition through age-appropriate training and performance benchmarks.
Abu Dhabi’s Growing Role in Regional Basketball
Hosting the first NBA Academy Select Showcase adds another dimension to Abu Dhabi’s growing basketball ecosystem.
Rather than only bringing established international basketball stars and teams to the UAE, programmes like this create opportunities for young players from the Middle East, Africa and South Asia to access coaching, competition and greater visibility.
H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi, attended the event and described the showcase as the next stage of Abu Dhabi’s partnership with the NBA.
For aspiring basketball players across the region, initiatives such as the NBA Academy Select Showcase could create a clearer pathway from grassroots participation towards higher levels of competition.
And for Abu Dhabi, it strengthens the emirate’s position not only as a destination for international sporting events, but increasingly as a place where future sporting talent can be identified and developed.
NBA Academy Select Showcase Abu Dhabi – Quick Details
Event: First NBA Academy Select Showcase
Dates: 23 – 26 September 2026
Location: NYU Abu Dhabi
Participants: 36 high-school-age prospects
Countries Represented: 15
Regions: Middle East, Africa and South Asia
MVP: Stephen Edwin, Nigeria
Defensive MVP: Nathan Djako, Côte d’Ivoire
Three-Point Contest Winner: Shekar Rathee, India
Championship Result: Chicago Bulls team defeated San Antonio Spurs team 42-23
Organised by: NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi
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