NBA Officials Growing Global Reach In Israel This Week

NBA officials are in Israel this week as part of "Basketball Without Borders" in an effort to "attract more foreign players and expand" the league's global reach. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver is part of the delegation, and some 60 of the top Under-17 players from Europe "will participate -- including 40 boys and 20 girls." Warriors F Omri Casspi, a native of Israel, will serve as a coach. Off the court, the program also "promotes cultural awareness." Basketball Without Borders has "held camps in 26 countries since it was launched" in '01. This is the "first time Israel, which is part of FIBA's Europe region, has hosted the program" (AP, 8/13).