FUTURES Basketball League, founded and funded, in part, by some of the biggest names in the NBA, will begin play next spring with 120 of the best under-18 boys basketball players in the nation, the group announced on Tuesday.
The inaugural season will feature 12 regional teams made up of prospects from the high school classes of 2028 through 2031, playing against each other on weekends from April to August.
Among the founders and early investors are LeBron James and Kevin Durant with their business partners Maverick Carter and Rich Kleiman, respectively. Former NBA No. 1 draft picks Derrick Rose (2008) and Paolo Banchero (2022) are on board as team owners.
Participants will receive NIL funds and training that includes “coaching, development and education,” according to a news release.
The goal of the Futures league is to give the nation’s top players one central league. Currently, they are divided among a variety of spring and summer programs, some sponsored by shoe companies. — Reuters