Former NBA coaches Jim O'Brien and Ralph Willardto conduct training for 200 Chinese coaches

BEIJING – NBA China and the Ministry of Education of China today tipped-off their first coaching clinic for Chinese university and middle school basketball coaches in Shenzhen. The coaching clinic is part of NBA China and the Ministry of Education's partnership to incorporate a fitness and basketball development curriculum in schools across China.

More than 200 Chinese coaches selected by the Ministry of Education will participate in the five-day clinic led by former Indiana Pacers Head Coach Jim O'Brien and Ralph Willard, Director of Basketball Operations, University of Louisville, and a former NBA assistant coach with the New York Knicks.

As part of the comprehensive training, O'Brien and Willard will provide specialized instruction on basketball techniques, strength and conditioning, nutrition, and overall player development.

"We are excited to have two great basketball coaches impart their knowledge and share their experiences with these Chinese coaches," said NBA China CEO David Shoemaker. "This is an important first step in our partnership with the Ministry of Education to provide world-class basketball education to millions of Chinese students."

In October 2014, the NBA and the Chinese Ministry of Education announced a groundbreaking partnership to grow basketball throughout China by incorporating a fitness and basketball development curriculum in elementary, middle and high schools across China. The partnership aims to grow basketball participation among students by providing enhanced basketball training to at least 3 million students by 2017.

The partnership with the Ministry of Education builds on the NBA's basketball and youth development efforts in China. In February 2014, NBA China and Yao Ming launched the first ever after-school basketball program in Beijing, providing basketball training and fitness programs for boys and girls at all skill levels, while also teaching the importance of teamwork, leadership and communication in a fun basketball environment. In September 2011, the CBA Dongguan Basketball School, an NBA Training Center, was launched for elite players ages 12-17. Together the CBA Dongguan Basketball School and CBA/NBA joint coaching program have trained more than 2,000 youth and coaches.