NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo will help to lead the camp

The International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) are set to host a joint development camp in Cuba’s capital Havana, just months after both Cuba and the United States announced plans to normalise relations with their long-time adversaries.

The four-day camp will be led by NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo, Women’s NBA legend Ticha Penicheiro and Steve Nash, the recently retired two-time NBA most valuable player, from April 23 to 26.

They will work alongside Cuba’s men’s and women’s national teams to deliver the camp and community outreach projects, in association with the Cuban Basketball Federation (CBF) and Cuban sports ministry, INDER.

“In the continued effort to strengthen our national federations, it is extremely gratifying to see Cuba serve as the centre of a development camp of this magnitude,” said FIBA President Horacio Muratore.

“This is a country that loves basketball and we are proud to work together with the NBA on this historic venture.”

The NBA would become the first American professional league to visit the Caribbean country since the countries announced their intentions to seek to improve relations in December.

Relations between the two nations have been strained for over 50 years, particularly during the height of the Cold War, with the failed Bay of Pigs invasion by the United States in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis the following year among notable dipolmatic incidents between the two nations.

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Recently retired NBA star Steve Nash will join Mutombo in leading the camp ©Getty Images

“This is a great day for Cuban basketball and our Federation,” said CBF President Ruperto Herrera reflected on the development camp.

“To have both the NBA and FIBA collaborate on youth instruction and the development of the game in our country is magnificent.

“We thank the Republic of Cuba and INDER for opening the doors for these basketball camps that will end up benefiting the future of national and international basketball.”

In addition to the camp the NBA and FIBA will invite two players and one coach from Cuba to participate in their global basketball development Basketball without Borders (BWB) camp, while through their NBA Cares programme three basketball courts will be refurbished and two youth basketball clinics will be held at two Havana locations.

“We’ve seen the bridges that basketball can build between cultures,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner and FIBA Executive Committee Member Mark Tatum.

“We look forward to sharing the values of our game with Cuban youth and learning together through the common language of sports.”

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Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder will help to lead training camps for Cuba's national teams ©Getty Images
Tatum is set to participate in court dedication ceremonies which focus on encouraging healthy, active lifestyles and teaching the values of the game such as teamwork, respect and dedication, alongside basketball legends and officials.


Orlando Magic head coach James Borrego will be joined by Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and his assistant Brad Jones in participating in training camps for the Cuban men’s and women’s national teams at senior and junior levels, alongside USA Basketball Youth Development Coach Don Showalter and Director of Basketball Academy of the Americas Victor Ojeda.

The coaches will also be joined by Washington Wizards Vice President of Basketball Administration Tommy Sheppard, New York Knicks Associate Athletic Trainer Anthony Goenaga, and FIBA Americas Referee Geraldo Fontana to host workshops for coaches and trainers.