Former US National Basketball Association (NBA) basketballer Vladimir Radmanovic. – Photo jrnba.pt

HÀ NỘI — Former US National Basketball Association (NBA) basketballer Vladimir Radmanovic will coach Youth at Jr. NBA Việt Nam Camp in Hà Nội on June 1.

“I’m excited to work with aspiring young athletes and experience how the game is played on this side of the world,” said Radmanovic. “This is a great opportunity to educate participants on how to fulfill their potential as players as well as how to play the game the right way.” 

Radmanovic, selected 12th overall in the 2001 NBA Draft, was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2002 and spent 12 seasons in the NBA with the Seattle Sonics, L.A. Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Chicago Bulls.

Returning for the sixth consecutive year, the Jr. NBA Việt Nam programme tipped off in HCM City and identified 10 players that will be part of the 50 boys and 50 girls participating in the final day of the Hà Nội camp. 

Radmanovic will attend the Hà Nội event to help coach and identify the five best boys and five girls for the 2019 Jr. NBA Việt Nam All-Stars to compete in the final round of the Jr. NBA Asia Pacific Selection Camp to be held at the Universitas Pelita Harapan (UPH) in Jakarta, Indonesia on June 15 – 16.

Ten best players of HCM City are ready for the final round of the Jr. NBA Việt Nam programme in Hà Nội on June 1. — Photo thanhnien.vn

The Jr. NBA Global Championship Asia Pacific Selection Camp will feature 68 participants from 10 countries across the region – with players from Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Việt Nam. It will focus on technical and tactical skills development in addition to five-on-five competition. 

The camp will culminate with the selection of 10 boys and 10 girls who will represent Asia Pacific at the Jr. NBA Global Championship in August.

Jr. NBA Việt Nam aims to improve youth wellness and address growing inactivity by empowering youth to lead healthy and active lifestyles. Since its launch in 2014, the programme has reached more than 1.6 million players, coaches and teachers across the country. 

In 2018, the NBA, Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) and Việt Nam Basketball Federation (VBF) launched the Jr. NBA Coaches Academy workshops, a train-the-trainers initiative that prepares teachers and instructors with on-court training, strength and conditioning, and basketball education, to further local basketball development.

Jr. NBA Việt Nam is supported by Geru Star, Sports Skills Academy (SSA) and VBF, with Vietcontent as the official broadcaster. — VNS

The NBA aims to develop young basketball talents in Việt Nam.  Photo thanhnien.vn