As international stars reshape the NBA, Abu Dhabi invests in basketball’s next generation

ABU DHABI: When Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added another NBA Most Valuable Player award to his growing list of achievements this season, it reinforced a trend that has increasingly defined basketball’s modern era.

The NBA’s highest individual honor has now remained in international hands since the 2017-18 season, when James Harden became the last American-born player to win MVP while playing for the Houston Rockets.

Recent years have seen international stars emerge at the forefront of the league, reflecting basketball’s expanding global footprint and the growing investment in player development beyond traditional basketball markets.

Against that backdrop, Abu Dhabi continues to strengthen its long-term basketball ambitions through grassroots programs aimed at developing the region’s next generation of talent.

The fifth season of the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA Abu Dhabi League officially tipped off this month with record participation, bringing together more than 2,500 boys and girls from 68 schools across Abu Dhabi and the Al-Ain region.

Now in its largest edition since launching in 2022, the program has expanded to include under-16 competition for the first time alongside existing under-12 and under-14 divisions. A total of 170 teams will compete across six leagues, representing a 39 percent year-on-year increase.

The season opened with a draft event held at Al-Qana Hall earlier this month.

Mohamed Khalifa Al-Mubarak, chairman of the Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi, said: “The continued growth of the Jr. NBA and Jr. WNBA Abu Dhabi League reflects our commitment to our youth and to inspiring the next generation of players across the UAE and wider region.”

Since its launch, the initiative has engaged