Treviso’s Pre-Draft Camp Proves Vital For NBA Teams

Every year, NBA executives flock to Treviso, Italy for pre-draft activities, specifically to observe players who may not have been available during the pre-draft camp in Chicago.

This happens with high regularity, seeing as European players are often with their clubs late into the season, meaning scouts and interested parties use this as an opportunity to get a proper look at some of the prospects.

The history of Benetton Treviso

Founded in 1954, Treviso has a strong basketball fan base, having had a top-division club, Benetton Treviso, for over 50 years. The club was home to several notable former NBA players, including Toni Kukoč, Andrea Bargnani, Brian Scalabrine, Jorge Garbajosa and Boštjan Nachbar, as well as former NBA coaches like Mike D’Antoni and Željko Obradović.

In 2012, Benetton Treviso folded its professional team, choosing instead to focus exclusively on youth development. The club’s relationship with the NBA began in the 1980’s when the city hosted the first-ever NBA game in Italy as the Seattle SuperSonics faced the local club on August 29, 1984.

Kukoč returned to the city in 2001, as Treviso hosted the first-ever Basketball Without Borders (BWB) camp, which has since become a stable within the NBA.

Basketball Without Borders

BWB has become the NBA, and FIBA’s, global basketball development and community outreach program for elite-level prospects outside of the United States. Typically, the NBA and FIBA host four BWB camps each summer for top male and female prospects from their respective regions (Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa), and then BWB Global camps at NBA and WNBA All-Star for top prospects around the world.

Since 2001, the camp has reached more than 4,600 attendees from 144 countries and territories, with 132 former campers advancing to the NBA and WNBA. Notable alumni include Pascal Siakam, Joel Embiid and Jamal Murray, not to mention recently-crowned MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

(Gilgeous-Alexander will be joined on court by five other BWB alumni throughout the NBA Finals in Siakam, Lu Dort, Isaiah Hartenstein, Bennedict Mathurin, and Andrew Nembhard.)

Q&A with NBA personnel

I had the chance to interview Troy Justice, NBA Senior Vice President, International Basketball Operations, on the importance of the Treviso camp, seen through the lens of NBA teams.

In regards to the pre-draft camp in Treviso, could you attach some words to the importance of NBA teams getting a chance to speak with these players, and getting to know them first-hand?

“It’s incredibly important. The players who attended the pre-Draft camp in Treviso weren’t able to attend the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago due to the fact that they’re still competing in their respective international leagues. The camp in Treviso allows them to go through the same athletic testing as the other Draft-eligible prospects, and as you said, speak directly with NBA teams. There’s a lot that goes into evaluating players – not just their ability on the court but who they are as people, teammates and leaders, and bringing these prospects to Treviso is a critical component of the pre-Draft process.”

From a macro perspective, the game has evolved a lot in recent years. Movement, shot distribution, positionless basketball, all of it has developed through the mix of international and American players both learning, and sharing their tendencies. Was this something the league saw coming 20 years ago, and what are your thoughts on the current state of the game, given the above-mentioned evolution?

“I’m not sure anyone could have foreseen just how global the game has become. A lot of the credit goes to David Stern, who saw the potential for basketball to be a truly global sport. As far as the current state of the game – I don’t think there has ever been more talent leaguewide than there is today, and that’s in large part because the level of international talent is at an all-time high. Every player – international and American – brings their own unique style and flair, and it has created an incredible on-court product that will be on full display in these Finals.”

Leah MacNab, NBA Senior Vice President, International Strategy & Operations, also agreed to share her views on the expanded role of international players in the NBA.

It’s extremely obvious that international talent injections have become a permanent annual fixture within the league, and not just a phase. What has the NBA learned from the abundance of international players coming over, in regards to how a league should be run, as well as marketed?

“We’re fortunate that the best players in the world – regardless of where they’re from – want to play in the NBA. And international players not only foster a unique connection between the NBA and the fans from their respective countries, but in many cases they are global superstars who resonate in the U.S. and around the world. In terms of how we market the league, we recognize that 99 percent of NBA fans will never attend a game in-person, so making our games and programming more accessible and delivering localized content on the devices and platforms fans use most is critically important. And we embrace the fact that every market is different – whether it’s the players and teams that fans are most interested in or the distinct basketball culture and rich tradition for the game that exists in so many cities and countries – and tailor our approach accordingly.”

The NBA is obviously a presence internationally, both through the Global Games, but also Basketball Without Borders, which has had involvement from All-NBA, and even MVP, players. When you set out to establish a presence in another country, what is your thought process and approach to that market?

“We take a market-based approach to ensure we’re meeting the needs of fans and players in their respective regions and bringing the NBA brand to life in a way that resonates locally. We work closely with our 16 international offices to define and execute our strategy in each market, including how best to engage fans in new and creative ways and provide opportunities for youth to learn and play the game.”