Florida Basketball Association Names Former NBA Star, Coach Sam Vincent as Chief Advisor for Global Development
Orlando, FL – The Florida Basketball Association (FBA) today announced it has appointed former NBA player and coach Sam Vincent as the league’s first-ever Chief Advisor for Global Development.
Also the Head Coach of the Bahrain Men’s National Team, Vincent is excited to offer his extensive international basketball knowledge to create new opportunities both for the FBA and his own team. Discussions are already in the works to bring the Bahrain squad to Florida to compete against FBA franchises in the not-so-distant future. In addition to Bahrain, Vincent has also played or coached professionally in Greece, the Netherlands and Nigeria.
“Over the many years I have been a player, coach and league executive, I have developed a countless number of contacts both in the United States and abroad,” Vincent said. “The FBA exists to create opportunities for players to find jobs in other countries … and there is no doubt this league features players who would help many such teams. As a result, my job will include creating additional knowledge of the FBA and helping supply deserving players to teams in need of their services.”
Vincent and longtime FBA Commissioner Greg Kite were teammates on the Boston Celtics’ 1986 NBA Championship team, and the duo is excited at the opportunity to once again work together – this time under the FBA umbrella. “I have spent a great deal of time with Sam over the years, first with the Celtics and most recently with the Florida chapter of the NBA Retired Players Association. His experience, contacts and professionalism will make him an invaluable resource for our league, its teams and its players.”
Vincent also has numerous ties to Central Florida and was an integral part of the Orlando Magic’s inaugural 1989 season.
Chosen Michigan’s “Mr. Basketball” coming out of high school, Vincent played collegiately at Michigan State. While there, he was a Sporting News All-American in 1985 and played alongside future Magic teammate Scott Skiles, comprising arguably the nation’s best backcourt. Vincent was drafted by the Celtics in the first round of the 1985 NBA draft and enjoyed a seven-year career in the NBA with four teams before playing overseas and then turning his focus to coaching – including a stint as the Head Coach of the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats.
The FBA is a Florida-based professional basketball league providing a development, branding and exposure platform for athletes, referees and other individuals seeking to further their professional basketball careers.
