JOHANNESBURG (Basketball Without Borders) - The 2018 edition of Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Africa not only helped the continent's leading boys and girls aged 17 and under to improve their skills, it was also an opportunity for FIBA, the NBA and the World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC) to work together in passing on their extensive knowledge and experience to local stakeholders of the game.

Under the leadership of WABC President Patrick Hunt, three coaches' clinics were conducted last Friday for 60 coaches from South Africa, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria and Senegal. NBA assistant coaches Ettore Messina (San Antonio Spurs), Bill Bayno (Indiana Pacers) and David Vanterpool (Portland Trailblazers) ran the clinics, which put an emphasis on teaching offensive and defensive fundamentals as a foundation to development.

The coaches were generous in giving of their time and also addressed matters that went beyond the court and sidelines. They reinforced messages about healthy living, eating right, warned of the damaging effects of alcohol and drugs and outlined the requirements - both physical and mental - needed to thrive in basketball.

"These clinics were outstanding," Hunt said of the joint initiative between FIBA, the NBA and WABC. "The presenting coaches did an excellent job in providing detailed coaching insights which will be of tremendous benefit for coaches at all levels."

The clinics were filmed and will be available free of charge on FIBA's YouTube channel and the WABC website in coming months.

FIBA