NBA to host Asia-Pacific team camp in China

Shabazz Muhammad of the Minnesota Timberwolves and NBA Legend Brian Cardinal will headline the Asia Pacific Team Camp presented by NIKE, which will take place in Nanjing, China, June 15-18, the NBA announced on June 11.

The Asia Pacific Team Camp will unite 40 male elite basketball players from four countries and regions in Asia – Australia, China, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand – for four days of intense basketball drills and competition directed by NBA players and coaches.

Joining the NBA players as camp coaches will be NBA assistant coaches Thomas Bialaszewski and Thomas Scott of the Los Angeles Lakers, Matt Brase of the Houston Rockets, Rich Fernando of the Miami Heat and Charles Klask of the Detroit Pistons.

Chinese coaches selected by the Chinese Basketball Association will observe the camp, and NBA players and campers will host a basketball clinic for local Nanjing students as part of NBA's community outreach effort.

This is the second time that Nanjing will host the Asia Pacific Team Camp. The first camp was held in 2013 featuring then-Detroit Pistons forward Kyle Singler and Dallas Mavericks center Bernard James.

"The camp is one of the NBA's key initiatives to develop basketball talent in this region," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker. "With the support of the CBA, Nanjing Sports Bureau and NIKE, we are able to give elite young players the opportunity to develop their skills on and off the court."

"The Asia Pacific Team Camp presented by NIKE will expose the top young talent of Australia, China, Chinese Taipei and New Zealand to some of the world's best coaching and help them become more proficient with their teamwork, sportsmanship and basketball abilities," said NIKE Asia Pacific Category Sports Marketing Director Goro Nakajima. "We are proud to partner with the NBA to promote important team values and to inspire these young campers to keep reaching for their dreams."

"The Asia Pacific Team Camp presented by NIKE provides our youth talent with the opportunity to learn from the best players and coaches in the world," said Deputy Director of Nanjing Sports Bureau Chen Suning. "I would like to thank the CBA and the NBA for choosing Nanjing as the host of this great event again. Our doors will be always open."