On Thursday night, Olivier-Maxence Prosper’s life was forever changed when NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Prosper’s name — a moment every basketball player dreams of. Prosper, the No. 24 pick by the Sacramento Kings (who was then dealt to the Dallas Mavericks) embraced the moment fully.
Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Mojave King may have played with different teams prior to declaring for the 2023 NBA draft, but the two prospects have been teammates before.
2023 NBA Academy Winter Tour Schedule
What is NBA Academy?
NBA Academy is a year-round elite basketball development initiative that provides top high school-age prospects from outside the U.S. with a holistic approach to player development and a predictable pathway to maximize their potential. The NBA Academy program includes academies across Australia, India, Mexico and Senegal for top prospects from their respective countries and continents.
The NBA identifies prospective athletes through a global network of scouts, relationships with local federations around the world, the mobile basketball training application HomeCourt, and the league’s other international basketball development programs: Jr. NBA, NBA Basketball School and Basketball Without Borders. Prospective NBA Academy athletes are evaluated based on skill level, character and long-term potential.
The program focuses on health and wellness, character development and life skills, and gives prospects the opportunity to learn the game from coaches who the NBA hires with professional, collegiate and international coaching experience.
Depending on the location of the academy, participants can receive academic support, including attending a local public school, receiving a scholarship to a local private school, or using an NCAA-approved virtual learning program.
As part of the program, the prospects compete against top competition throughout the year and have an opportunity to be selected for travel teams that play in international tournaments and exhibition games.
NBA Basketball Schools are a network of basketball development programs around the world open to both male and female players ages 6-18. The NBA Basketball School is unique in its approach based on “the NBA way” of developing players in a structured program and environment focused on skill development and promoting positive values such as integrity, teamwork, respect and determination.
