WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 2015 SPORTS NBA pipeline from Europe getting bigger INDIANAPOLIS: When Pacers forward could come during Thursday night’s expand the talent pool. Since the inau- Andrew Wiggins and Anthony Bennett, notice that, and the NBA game is getting Damjan Rudez returned to the draft. A record 101 foreign-born players gural 2001 camp in Treviso, Italy, more grew up in Canada. The NBA’s European to a point where you can’t just run over Basketball Without Borders camp earlier began this season on NBA rosters, and than 2,300 players from more than 120 contingent includes Luol Deng, Marc guys. this month, there were some noticeable three more - Emmanuel Mudiay of countries have participated and the suc- and Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony “I think the states are getting back to changes. China, Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia and cess stories have steadily increased. Parker and Ricky Rubio. Manu Ginobili, teaching fundamentals, but I don’t see The long, gangly European kids he Mario Hezonja of Croatia - are potential Thirty-three grads have been drafted Nene and Anderson Varejao all honed those building blocks like you do here.” competed with and against in 2003 had top 10 picks. including Andrea Bargnani, the No. 1 their basketball skills in South America, In fact, the European style has even giv- been replaced by bigger, stronger, more “Honestly, the camp hasn’t changed a overall pick in 2006, and Joel Embiid, the while Andrew Bogut and Kyrie Irving en American coaches new tools. polished teenagers. lot. The principles are the same,” said No. 3 overall pick last year. Two more were born in Australia. At a recent high school coaching clin- Perhaps it’s just a natural progression Rudez, who just completed his first NBA players, Rudez and Boston’s Luigi Their once-subtle impact on the NBA ic, Kentucky’s John Calipari demonstrat- for the program designed to turn inter- season with the Pacers. “The NBA has Datome, have made rosters as undrafted is also growing. “There’s a lot of pride in ed how he used the Euro step with his national prospects such as Rudez into done a terrific job of organizing the free agents. Europe in teaching the fundamentals,” own team last season. He explained it NBA contributors and then bring back whole thing - great gear, great condi- The Europeans “are pretty good,” Pacers assistant coach Dan Burke said improved his players’ efficiency ratings those graduates as teachers to work tions for working. But it seems like these Charlotte center and former Indiana after working the camp. “From what I’ve because they could either get to the with the next generation of international days, the kids are growing like crazy. University star Cody Zeller said after seen, we don’t get as much opportunity basket cleanly, allowing them to play at stars. Or perhaps, the players are matur- They’re huge. I don’t remember us being working his second international camp to see the 17-year-olds (in the US), but a faster pace, or draw fouls, which ing much quicker - much like American that tall or that powerful or that big in two years. “I can see where there’s a what we see coming in is a lack of funda- allowed them to score with the clock players seem to be. when we were here.” couple that have that (NBA) potential, mentals. There are a lot of different rea- stopped. Either way, one thing is clear: BWB is The initial goals of BWB were simple - and even the ones that don’t make the sons for it. Some people say AAU just And now it’s time for the 20-some- helping to turn Europe into a fertile find the best players in the world, teach NBA, I think, will have productive careers rolls the ball out and they play. They get thing contingent of players like Wiggins training ground for NBA hopefuls. An them skills that would make them pro- overseas.” This global trend isn’t subsid- by on athleticism and God-given talent. and Rudez to reach out to the next wave indication of the program’s success ductive pro players and continue to ing. The last two No. 1 overall draft picks, But the ones who really work, you do of European prospects. —AP Horner shocked by rumors about future LONDON: Red Bull principal Christian with Dietrich on Saturday evening and we Horner has shrugged off speculation about still get along very well. his future and said he is determined to stay “We know we have problems but we on to help the troubled Formula One team just have to work through them and I am resolve their problems. here to do that job.” Red Bull, winners of The Times newspaper reported on four successive driver and constructor Tuesday that one of Horner’s rival princi- championships between 2010 and 2013, pals had called him on Sunday morning, have yet to feature on the podium this sea- before the Austrian Grand Prix, to commis- son. The relationship with under-perform- erate about his supposed departure. ing engine partners Renault has been The unidentified boss had been given stretched to breaking point while the impression that Austrian Gerhard Mateschitz has talked of falling out of love Berger, a former McLaren and Ferrari driver with the sport. who is close to Red Bull’s billionaire owner At the Austrian Grand Prix, a home race Dietrich Mateschitz, was set to replace the for Red Bull, the team scored just one point Briton. “I was shocked,” Horner said. after Australian Daniel Ricciardo and “I had no idea people were talking Russian Daniil Kvyat collected 10-place grid about me that way. I have a long contract penalties for engine changes. Red Bull are with the team. It is difficult but I had dinner fourth overall. Horner said changes needed to be made to enable Renault and Honda to close the gap on champions Mercedes and Ferrari while the rules should be simplified. However, he added that Mateschitz remained supportive of the sport despite the situation. “He’s telling what he thinks. He ultimate- ly is a fan, that’s why he’s committed so GALLE: Pakistan’s Yasir Shah (center) celebrates in this file photo. —AP much of Red Bull’s marketing activities to Formula One. The risk for Formula One is when someone like Dietrich starts to fall out of love with it,” said Horner. “That’s a big worry because we need Buoyant Pakistan target people like Dietrich to be engaged. “He runs a multinational company and Red Bull does not exist because of Formula One...if Formula One isn’t generating the return series win in Sri Lanka and the coverage for him then of course he’s going to raise questions about that.” Red Bull run two of the 10 teams in COLOMBO: A confident Pakistan will aim to The tourists bowled out Sri Lanka for 300 spinner in Galle. “Playing Herath confidently was Formula One, with Toro Rosso used to clinch a first Test series win in Sri Lanka for nine after electing to field first, but were themselves the key for us,” Misbah said. “It’s a good sign for develop junior talent such as 17-year-old years when the second match starts at the P. reduced to 96-5 before Sarfraz Ahmed and Asad us because he is a very good bowler and could Dutch driver Max Verstappen.—Reuters Sara Oval in Colombo tomorrow. Shafiq launched a gritty fight back. have done a lot more. Christian Horner Misbah-ul Haq’s tourists are riding high after The pair put on 139 runs for the sixth wicket “We need to keep this going to win the series a 10-wicket triumph in the opening Test in Galle in quicktime to turn the tables on Sri Lanka, with because he is a tough competitor capable of on Sunday despite the first four sessions of the Shafiq making 131 and Sarfraz 96, as Pakistan doing anything.” Pakistan’s spinners claimed 13 match being washed out. gained a 117-run lead. wickets between them in Galle, compared to five Olympic surfing Pakistan have lost their last three series in Sri Yasir Shah then ripped through the second for Sri Lanka’s, and the home captain Angelo Lanka following a 1-0 success in 2006 but innings with figures of 7-76 — the best by a leg- Mathews conceded that cost his team dearly. Misbah’s men could not have asked for a better spinner on Sri Lankan soil-to bowl out the rivals “I admit that our spinners were not as effec- just not Wright venue to seal the series than the historic Oval for 206 and set up the memorable win. tive as their spinners, even though the pitch was ground where Sri Lanka played their first Test turning from day one,” said Mathews. “Hopefully, match, against England, in 1982. TAMING HERATH Rangana (Herath) will bounce back quickly.” SYDNEY: Australian world championship for the Tokyo Games and welcomed the The sporting Oval pitch, regarded as the However, the key to Pakistan’s success lay in Pakistan may play all-rounder Mohammad contender Owen Wright believes surfing is sport’s inclusion in the shortlist. The body, finest on the island, has produced a winner in their batsmen dominating Sri Lanka’s spin spear- Hafeez as a batsman after his bowling action closer to an art form than a sport and would which is recognised by the International eight successive Tests since 2005, and another head Rangana Herath, a constant thorn for the was reported by umpires for a second time in not be a good fit at the Olympics.