KIDS GET ALL-STAR TREATMENT
Leonard hopes to Spur some of China’s best at Zhejiang Academy
Some of China’s best young basketball players will strut their stuff for guest coach and two-time NBA All-Star Kawhi Leonard at the NBA Academy Zhejiang in Zhuji next week.
A first-round pick (15th overall) by the Indiana Pacers in the 2011 NBA Draft, Leonard was traded to the San Antonio Spurs on draft night.
He was named MVP of the 2014 Finals en route to leading the Spurs to the championship, and last season averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists as the Spurs captured the Southwest Division title and finished second to the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference.
Leonard’s first trip to China, Aug 18-24, will kick off with a clinic for select migrant school students in Beijing as part of the NBA’s celebration of its 30-year partnership with CCTV.
He will also interact with fans at the league’s five-on-five tournament for elite Chinese players and pay a visit to Ten- cent’s broadcast studio in the capital.
He will participate in the Career Crossover program and work with the NBA’s player-development department, along with accompanying NBA China CEO David Shoemaker to executive meetings.
Leonard will then visit the NBA Academy Zhejiang, where he will put players through their paces in a series of drills and scrimmages before wrapping up his trip with a special appearance at the family-friendly NBA Playzone in Shanghai.
“I’m thrilled to travel to China to help grow the game of basketball,” Leonard said this week. “I am also excited to see the fans’ passion and excitement for the game and to experience the Chinese culture.”
The NBA Academy Zhejiang, NBA Academy Shandong and NBA Academy Xinjiang are elite training centers for China’s top male and female prospects. They were opened last fall and employ a holistic, 360-degree approach to player development that focuses on education, leadership, character development and life skills.
As part of the program, students compete against top competition throughout the year and have an opportunity to be selected for travel teams that play in international tournaments.