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    • First-ever NBA Academy Select Showcase Concludes in Abu Dhabi

    By on October 6, 2026

    Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 6 October 2026: The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) held the first-ever NBA Academy Select Showcase at NYU Abu Dhabi from 23-26 September.

    The four-day event brought together 36 top high-school-age prospects from 15 countries across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, as part of efforts to identify and evaluate promising players.

    The prospects participated in skills development sessions and exhibition games under the guidance of five-time NBA champion Ron Harper, two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion Jason Richardson and veteran NBA assistant coaches Damian Cotter, Dan Craig, Henry Domercant and James Wade. The event culminated with the NBA Academy Select Showcase team named after the Chicago Bulls defeating the NBA Academy Select Showcase team named after the San Antonio Spurs 42-23 in the championship game.

    H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of DCT Abu Dhabi was in attendance to celebrate the event.

    H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi, said “The NBA Academy Select Showcase marks the next phase of our partnership with the NBA and our commitment to developing future basketball talent. Bringing leading young prospects from across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia to Abu Dhabi for elite coaching, competition and development further strengthens the emirate’s role within the global basketball ecosystem. As we continue to expand grassroots participation, our ambition is to create opportunities for recognition and development, giving emerging players the chance to reach their full potential.”

    Following the championship game, the Showcase concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing standout prospects across several categories:

    • MVP: Stephen Edwin (NIG)
    • Defensive MVP: Nathan Djako (CIV)
    • All-Select Showcase Team: Nathan Djako (CIV), Stephen Edwin (NIG), Shekar Rathee (IND), Mahdi Baqer (BAH), and Yahya Ammar (EGY)
    • Three-Point Contest Winner: Shekar Rathee (IND)
    • 3v3 Winners: Jock James (BAH), Shekar Rathee (IND), Arman Arman (IND) and Ismail Hassini (MOR)

    The NBA Academy Select Showcase builds on the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to support grassroots basketball. At the heart of this work is a holistic approach to developing elite basketball prospects that combines technical skills development, physical conditioning, injury prevention, nutrition, mental performance, basketball IQ and character development.

    Together, the NBA and DCT Abu Dhabi support a defined development framework outlining how young athletes can progress from beginner to elite levels through age-appropriate training, competition, physical development, mental skills and performance benchmarks.

    About the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi:

    The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) drives the sustainable growth of Abu Dhabi’s culture and tourism sectors and its creative industries, fuelling economic progress and helping to achieve Abu Dhabi’s wider global ambitions.

    By working in partnership with the organisations that define the emirate’s position as a leading international destination, DCT Abu Dhabi strives to unite the ecosystem around a shared vision of the emirate’s potential, coordinate effort and investment, deliver innovative solutions, and use the best tools, policies and systems to support the culture and tourism industries.

    DCT Abu Dhabi’s vision is defined by the emirate’s people, heritage and landscape. We work to enhance Abu Dhabi’s status as a place of authenticity, innovation, and unparalleled experiences, represented by its living traditions of hospitality, pioneering initiatives and creative thought.

    For more information about the Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi and the destination, please visit: dct.gov.ae and visitabudhabi.ae/

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