Chicago Basketball Academy

The global nature of basketball continues to reveal itself through the relationships built across the game.

Recently, we had the opportunity to reconnect with former professional player Sari Papazian, a teammate of CBA founder Damond Williams during their championship run together in 2009 while playing internationally.

Moments like this reflect something larger than competition. They illustrate how basketball connects cultures, careers, and lifelong relationships across borders. As the conversation around the Basketball Economy continues to grow, exchanges like this help reinforce the idea that the sport’s impact extends far beyond the court yet into education, business, and international collaboration.

Basketball is a global ecosystem. And the relationships built through the game remain one of its most powerful forces.

“The Basketball Economy” is now in the hands of practitioners, executives, and educators across the global game.
The work continues.

Years in the making.

The Basketball Economy explores basketball as a global system—from talent pipelines and leagues to culture, capital, and opportunity.

Advance copies are now in the hands of educators, executives, and leaders across the game.

Official release: September 1

Built by research. Informed by experience. Powered by the game.

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We’re excited to share a milestone in the ongoing development of the Basketball Economy Program (BEP).

Over the past year, our team has been focused on building curriculum-aligned resources that explore basketball as a global economic, cultural, and institutional system. This work is designed to support academic learning, professional development, and long-term career pathways within and beyond the game.

As we prepare for the release of The Basketball Economy, we remain committed to advancing education, research, and dialogue at the intersection of basketball, business, and global opportunity. More to come.

Great meeting today 🤝 with Associate AD and NIL Strategy lead , where we discussed our Basketball 🏀 Economy 📊 Program. Excited to share that a strong collaboration and partnership is now in motion!

Back 2 back w/ and 🏀🌎 🥾

In the gym 🏀💪 with and

Let 🏀🌎 take your talents and NIL goals to the next level 📈 (link in bio)

Superman 🦸🏾‍♂️ and CBA 🏀🌎

We have some exciting news to share with you all today! Founder, Damond L. Williams has recently signed a licensing agreement with W.W. Norton & Company for his powerful excerpt featured in the 6th edition of 'They Say / I Say.' This is a huge milestone in Damond's career as an author, and we couldn't be more proud of him.

For those who aren't familiar with his work, Damond is a talented writer with several published pieces in various literary journals and magazines. We encourage you to check out his work and support a talented author who is making a difference in the literary world. Congratulations, Damond!