The Continental Basketball Association (CBA) announced that it has entered into a partnership with the The British Basketball Association (BBA), aimed at developing players and raising the profile of the British game ahead of 2012.

 

The BBA is an Anglo- American consortium, including technology entrepreneur Ken Olisa and former Los Angeles Laker AC Green. that announced last month it planned to launch a new professional league in Britain to rival the current British Basketball League.

 

It is due to launch in November 2007 with 10 franchises in major UK cities. Coventry have already accepted an invitation to take part.

 

The BBA/CBA partnership will focus on increasing player, coaching and officiating standards as well as grassroots development of the next generation of British basketball talent.

 

Other areas of concentration will include joint promotion, sponsorship marketing, media coverage, access to foreign talent and international competition. Importantly, the partnership will benefit from each group's talents in the areas of corporate finance, business strategy and basketball operations.

 

BBA Chief Executive Ron Scott said: "We have always stated our objectives are to leverage our network and business experience in order to bring better basketball to Great Britain.

 

"Partnering with the CBA with their established platform and record of achievement will give BBA clubs access to the advice, ideas and guidance required to build successful businesses."

 

Ricardo Richardson, Chief Executive of CBA Properties, said: "Our new direction at the CBA is to develop and market basketball on a global level by working closely with countries that have rich potential and a passion for sport.

 

"Working with the BBA and Great Britain as a whole presents us with an exceptional opportunity to use our talents and experience to help build a professional league which will become one of the most competitive in Europe".

 

 

 

The CBA is the world's oldest professional basketball league and is currently entering its 61st year of operation. It is registered with USA Basketball and FIBA and has standing agreements with all major global leagues in the world for the development of players, coaches and management executives.

 

Over 600 players and coaches have been called up to the NBA since 1979