MEXICO CITY -- The National Basketball Association (NBA) will host 40 of the top young basketball players from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico at the Americas Team Camp Presented by Nike in Mexico City Aug. 10-13 at El Centro Nacional de Desarrollo de Talentos Deportivos y Alto Rendimiento (CNAR - National Center for Talent Development and High Performance Sports).
The camp, which includes four days of intense basketball drills and competition directed by NBA players and coaches, will feature appearances by Mexico born NBA veteran Jorge Gutierrez, the Denver Nuggets’ Danilo Gallinari and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Quincy Pondexter.
Also participating in the camp is Phoenix Suns head coach Earl Watson, Chicago Bulls assistant coach Jim Boylen, Atlanta Hawks assistant coach Taylor Jenkins, Pelicans assistant coach Fred Vinson, USA Basketball Youth Division Director of Coach Development Don Showalter, and L.A. Clippers Assistant Athletic Trainer Joe Resendez. Boston Celtics Director of Player Personnel Austin Ainge will serve as camp director. The camp will also incorporate local coaches from Mexico selected by CONADE (Mexico’s National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport).
Americas Team Camp participants are the top players born in 1999 and 2000 from their respective countries as selected by the NBA, Nike and participating basketball federations. As the presenting partner, Nike will outfit the campers and coaches with apparel.
“Our fourth Americas Team Camp presented by Nike continues our efforts to grow basketball at the elite level in the Americas,” said NBA Mexico Vice President and Managing Director Raul Zarraga. “Through the oncourt work, life skills sessions and NBA Cares efforts in the local community, this camp will teach these young players how to be better players on the court and leaders in the community.”
CONADE’s General Director Alfredo Castillo also offered his full support for the Americas Team Camp Presented by Nike as it fosters youth basketball development and strengthens the organization’s commitment to continue the growth of Mexican basketball.
The four-day camp will consist of clinics teaching basketball fundamentals, life skills sessions focusing on leadership and healthy living, and competitive 5-on-5 games. The camp will conclude with a 5-on-5 championship game and an All-Star game. In addition, NBA Cares will host an hour-long life skills discussion with 80 local youth athletes focusing on leadership, goal setting, and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
2016 marks the fourth year of the Americas Team Camp presented by Nike. The NBA has previously held camps in Brazil (2010), Puerto Rico (2012) and Toronto (2014).