Doha: Former basketball player and seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, Golden State Warriors shooting guard Klay Thompson and LA Lakers head coach Luke Walton visited Aspire Academy in Doha yesterday.
Besides the opportunity to find out more about the place in a guided tour, the three NBA stars used their visit to share some experience with a group of Aspire Academy student-athletes on the basketball court.
“The combination sports and education here at Aspire is something special. They are not only making great athletes, but the educational component will also shape them to become great leaders and smart guys and so they will have something to fall back to just in case”, said the former shooting guard McGrady, who played for great teams such as Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets, New York Knicks and Detroit Pistons and who was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2017.
LA Lakers coach Walton, who had a successful playing career including two NBA championship titles with his current club, was also impressed by the Academy’s philosophy.
“The facilities for the different sports are all nothing to none and it’s great to see so many kids working and training here. I was impressed when I heard about the sophisticated scouting and selection process and seeing all the opportunities they have here I wish I was a kid and could come here.”
The visitors have not only been impressed by Aspire Academy, they stressed that their overall stay in Qatar had been a great time for them.
“I think in order to have an understanding what Qatar is all about people have to come here, because they are really doing amazing things here. The people are gracious and friendly and I will definitely tell people back home that this is a place worth visiting”, says Tracy McGrady. “This has been one of my best trips ever.”
The NBA stars are spending five days in Qatar at the invitation of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) to see how Qatar is preparing to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. From Aspire Academy the NBA stars took a shot hop to Aspetar, Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, and were blown away by the services and operations at the world renowned institute.
