13 Nov 2021
Doha, Qatar; November 11, 2021 2021.
Former basketball player and 7-times NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady and Jalen Rose, NBA most improved player (2000) and six teams forward (Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, and Phoenix Suns) visited Aspire Academy on Thursday Afternoon.
In addition to learning more about the fantastic facilities of Aspire Academy in a guided tour, the two NBA legends used their visit to share some experience with a group of Aspire Academy student-athletes on the basketball court in a master class.
“The combination of sports and education here at Aspire Academy 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”, says 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.
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.
The NBA stars are spending three 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, just one year away from the all Arabs Football World event.