NBA and Los Angeles Lakers legend Derek Fisher believes that offering more opportunity in the grassroots will open more doors for aspiring players to progress to not only the NBA in the United States but also bigger leagues across the world.
Fisher, who played for the Lakers in two different stints from 1996 to 2004 and 2007 to 2012, believes that offering opportunities for training and exposure to players at a young age gives them a chance to implement their vision and fulfill their dreams.
Speaking to Telecomasia.net on the sidelines of his visit to Kenya, Fisher says he is dedicated to ensuring that more players, especially from Africa, get this opportunity.
I know as a person from a small city, very small state in the USA, access to opportunity is what drove the growth for me personally and professionally, whether it was playing outside or at a court nearby, to have structured play at a local boys and girls club. For a young person, part of your identity starts to form when you are able to see yourself growing and getting better at something.
Derek Fisher
He is in Kenya as part of an NBA outreach, through the Junior NBA program, seeking to give more opportunities to underprivileged kids from the grassroot.
I am excited to be here, and looking forward to helping grow the game of basketball everywhere. We can have an opportunity here in Kenya, and the rest of the continent. There is so much we can achieve together.
Derek Fisher exclusively for Telecom Asia Sport
The NBA, through the Junior NBA program, has proposed to build 100 basketball facilities in Kenya.