The NBA, FIBA and the Turkish Basketball Federation unveiled the inaugural Men’s Basketball Without Borders Next Up camp, scheduled for August 26‑29, 2026, at the Basketbol Gelişim Merkezi in Istanbul, Türkiye. The event will host 78 of the world’s most promising high‑school players, representing 44 different countries, who have been selected as the top international prospects for the program.
Over the course of four days, participants will engage in a comprehensive curriculum that includes athletic testing, skill‑development stations, 3‑on‑3 competitions, and 5‑on‑5 games. In addition, the camp will offer life‑skills seminars designed to prepare the athletes for challenges both on and off the court.
Coaching Legacy and Mentorship
Current and former NBA and FIBA players will lead the instruction, with veteran coach Kenny Atkinson joined by former NBA athletes Dominick Barlow and Thomas Bryant. Their involvement underscores the camp’s commitment to blending elite on‑court training with personal development.
This marks the third time Basketball Without Borders has been staged in Istanbul, having previously hosted editions in 2002 and 2008. The camp celebrates the 25th anniversary of the broader Basketball Without Borders initiative, a global development program jointly run by the NBA and FIBA that has already engaged more than 4,900 participants from 149 nations since 2001.
The program’s impact is evident in the career paths of former campers, several of whom have risen to prominence in the NBA and WNBA, including Deni Avdija, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander and Pascal Siakam. To support the next generation, Nike will outfit all participants with apparel and footwear as part of its long‑standing partnership with the initiative. The camp will also present a suite of awards, such as the Kim Bohuny Camp MVP and the Patrick Baumann Sportsmanship Award, to recognize outstanding performances.
Looking ahead, organizers have announced plans for an inaugural Women’s BWB Next Up camp to take place in the fall of 2026, expanding the program’s reach and reinforcing its dedication to gender equity in basketball development.