London visitors help build a happy NBA House

You know an event is well thought out and worth your time when it includes merchandise from every NBA team. Yes, even the Charlotte Bobcats were represented.

Jubilee Hall in Covent Garden opened it’s doors on Friday 3rd August to the NBA House and a public who are still largely unaware of basketball despite Team GB’s Men and Women representing their country at the London Olympics. Once inside, whether visitors are die-hard fans or simply inquisitive newcomers, it’s hard not to be excited by the atmosphere and activities on show.

Pop-a-shot stands, the Larry O’Brien trophy, a Skype-style live chat room with NBA players, a line-up of every jersey in the NBA, an assortment of measurement charts to compare yourself to (Rajon Rondo’s hands are like giant tarantulas), PS Vista game stations, a third of a court to run drills and play games on, an array of NBA Legends on hand to help out youngsters and sign autographs, official NBA merchandise – NBA House pretty much has it all.

The excitable chatter as visitors to the free London event walked around the music-filled hall, indicated that the NBA’s international recruitment drive was going well and that, at the conclusion of the ten day event, the fourth most popular sport in the U.S may well have a little more interest from the Olympic hosts.

“London is very lucky in the fact that they were lucky enough to have the Olympics and to have the opportunity to have an organisation like the National Basketball Association to build an NBA House,” said 46 year old Dikembe Mutumbo who was at the event. “I don’t think the fans of this city (London) can ask again from the NBA – (not) when there are so many cities in the world – the chance and opportunity to benefit.”

It was reassuring to see that the demographic of visitors to NBA House was as varied and widespread as those who attend football matches. From an 11 year old Hackney girl wearing a Chicago Bulls top to the 65 year old German holidaymaker sporting Lakers colours, NBA House attracted all ages.

And it was the ballers* in attendance who the former four-time defensive player of the year, Mutumbo, addressed when he spoke about the keys to success on the court:

“Work, work, work,” stressed the former 19 year pro. “Riding a bike, treadmill, training yourself up, cross training – That’s the diligent study that you have to do.”

“How often do you go to the weight room and if you DO go to the weight room, how LONG do you stay there? If you don’t have the physical maintenance, you’ll be destroyed.”

Mutumbo’s words were probably the most serious note of an otherwise chilled day but they were also possibly the most important. Particularly in relation to the growth of the game away from the States.

These are promising times for basketball in the UK with the Olympics hosting a collection of the best teams in the world and now with NBA House in the capital.

Hard work has got the NBA to where it is in Europe to date and hard work will see basketball succeed in this country.

*I would take Mutumbo’s advice – and probably still should – but at almost 30 years old and with a struggling performance in a media 3-on-3 competition at NBA House where I posted more fouls than points, I think the days of me playing ball are long gone.