Future stars gather in Istanbul for Basketball Without Borders camp

Istanbul's Basketball Development Center has welcomed seventy-eight prospects for the inaugural Basketball Without Borders Next Up camp, a four-day event marking the 25th anniversary of the NBA-FIBA partnership. The program — organized with the Türkiye Basketball Federation — has produced more than 150 NBA and WNBA alumni, including MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and champions Jamal Murray and Pascal Siakam.

Participants will undergo athletic testing and skill-development sessions while competing in three-on-three and five-on-five games, according to organizers. They will learn from 2021 NBA champions Brook Lopez and Khris Middleton, Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson, and legends Vlade Divac and Danilo Gallinari.

Atkinson stresses habits over talent

Kenny Atkinson told Anadolu Agency that raw ability alone is no longer sufficient to reach the NBA, emphasizing professional habits and off-court discipline. "It's not enough to be a good player. It's not enough to be a talented player. You have to have all the habits to succeed and to make our league. The days where you were just a good talent and you made the NBA, those days are over," he said.

Atkinson noted that even elite prospects typically enter the league as role players. "Maybe there's a superstar here, maybe not. But usually you're a role player when you come in the NBA," he said, adding that rookies must embrace defense, rebounding and "all the dirty work" to help teams win.

Gallinari returns as mentor

Former NBA forward Danilo Gallinari — who attended as a camper in 2003 — has returned as an instructor, demonstrating the camp's long-term trajectory. "The main goal for us as coaches is to see a little bit of improvement every day. And hopefully, when they will become professionals, they will think about these days and say, Hey, I remember when Danilo told me this, I used this advice," Gallinari said.

Gallinari also highlighted basketball's expanding global reach. "Now the competition for the best players in the world comes from everywhere, every corner in the world," he said, describing the camp as "the first step to greatness" for participants willing to sacrifice.