Basketball is the new global sport. Behind the omnipotence of football, basketball is the second most popular team sport in the world and is no longer just the preserve of the North American countries that have dominated the game since its inception.
The UAE has been no exception in turning to basketball as a recreational sport and, for some the opening of further opportunities. And at the moment, there is no place as good as the Jawann Oldham NBA Developmental Academy in Dubai to learn the game.
Run by Oldham, the academy is a holistic programme that operates nine months of the year to improve young men and women not just on the court, but off it as well.
“I think my academy is very unique, we were the first basketball academy to open up here in 2006/07,” said Oldham. “The academy has grown since then. We don’t have too many kids. We’re all about quality, not quantity.
“The parents are very important, but we want them to be behind the kids at the academy, we want them to have a relationship with us.
“I apply what I was taught. The word I use is developmental… we want to develop these young men and women academically and physically. We want them to be really good students and we want them to excel academically. We really strive for everyone to be academically sound.
“We apply a nutrition programme. We want to know what they’re eating – is it McDonalds or something else? We want to put kids on the right track and have good habits.”
Oldham is no ordinary basketball player. The seven footer is an NBA veteran of over 300 games. He played for the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Orlando Magic and LA Lakers, as well as wining an Olympic gold medal in the 1980 Games in Mexico City with team USA.
An expert shot blocker with over 10 years experience in the NBA, Oldham made good use of his ext-raordinary height as a player, but believes the trait isn’t an issue in basketball, and that it’s about skills and athleticism.
“Whether you are five-foot-five or six-foot-five, we have a myriad range we apply with the kids. We do a lot of plyometrics, which allows you to increase how high you jump, and it’s good for co-ordination and flexibility.
“It can also help avoid injuries. We do a lot of footwork, defence, strength, athleticism and more. Some kids have one dimension, in that they can only do one thing, which is usually picking up the ball and shooting. Most kids don’t have the technique, so we help that with the training.”
Oldham looks to create real bonds with his students and their parents to help create a proper learning environment, and says “if you don’t feel a difference in your game at the end of the year, I say ‘don’t come back’. But if you do feel a difference, and there is a change, then you should continue to come back and we can continue the development. This isn’t a weekend drop off.”
The academy is located next to the Emirates International School in Dubai and the registration fee is Dh2,500.
WHAT: Jawann Oldham NBA Developmental Academy.
WHEN: Programmes run through the year.
WHERE: Jawann’s Academy is located near Emirates Internatio-nal School, Dubai.
CONTACT: For more information, call Jawann on 050 140 2271.
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