It takes more than talent to reach the top, says NBA legend Vlade Divac

DUBAI: When Vlade Divac entered the National Basketball Association BA in 1989, international players were still a relative rarity.

More than three decades later, some of the NBA’s biggest stars are international, from Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic to Victor Wembanyama.

And this week, in Istanbul, Divac has had an up-close look at some of those hoping to form the next generation.

The Serbian NBA legend is among the current and former players and coaches mentoring 78 leading high-school-age prospects from 44 countries and territories across six continents at the inaugural Men’s Basketball Without Borders Next Up camp, which runs from Aug. 26-29 at Istanbul’s Basketbol Gelisim Merkezi.

“There is obviously a lot of talent out here, so it’s exciting to work with participants to give them a lead and make sure that they’re ready one day to hopefully become a part of the NBA,” Divac told Arab News.

But for the Hall of Famer, talent will only take a young player so far.

“Talent is always the number one thing, but besides that, you can’t just rely on talent,” he said.

“You have to work hard, you have to work every day and you have to create an environment around you of coaches and teammates and even family members. They all have to be supportive of your journey. Additionally, you have to be smart enough to stay out of trouble and focus on the game.”

It is advice rooted in Divac’s own journey.

Drafted 26th overall by the Los Angeles Lakers, he went on to spend 16 seasons in the NBA, also playing for the Charlotte Hornets and Sacramento Kings, and was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2019.

Young international players today have far more opportunities to learn from and connect with the NBA