Nash, Siakam, Nurse highlight new Jr. NBA Canadian Leadership Council

The NBA and Canada Basketball announced Monday the creation of the Jr. NBA Canadian Leadership Council, an initiative designed to help grow youth basketball in Canada by "providing direction on Jr. NBA Youth Basketball's programming and development."

The two organizations' existing youth programs - Jr. NBA Rookie Division and Steve Nash Youth Basketball - will also merge as the rebranded Jr. NBA Youth Basketball.

Current and former players with NBA or WNBA ties on the new council include Hall of Famer Steve Nash, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers guard Cory Joseph, and New York Liberty guard Kia Nurse.

The entire council, in alphabetical order, includes:

• Nav Bhatia, superfan
• Martha Bradbury, representative, Canadian Basketball Officials Commission
• Peter Dinsdale, president and CEO, YMCA Canada
• David Goldstein, chief operating officer, U Sports
• Cory Joseph, player, Pacers and Canadian senior men's national team
• Steve Konchalski, former head coach, Canadian senior men's national team (1995-98)
• Michael Linklater, representative and athlete, Indigenous Sport Community and FIBA 3x3
• Allison McNeill, former head coach, Canadian senior women's national team (2002-12)
• Lori Munro-Sigfridson, president, PHE Canada
• Lizanne Murphy, Olympian and Canadian senior women's national team member (2012)
• Steve Nash, eight-time NBA All-Star and Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame member
• Kia Nurse, player, Liberty and Canadian senior women's national team
• Michele O'Keefe, FIBA Central Board member and associate director, Niagara College Athletics and Recreation
• Pete Quevillon, director, KidSport BC
• Teresa Resch, vice president, Basketball Operations and Player Development, Toronto Raptors
• Pascal Siakam, player, Toronto Raptors
• Wayne Yearwood, Olympian and Canadian senior men's national team member (2000)

The 300-plus community organizations that are participating in Jr. NBA Youth Basketball will teach a development curriculum designed by the NBA and Canada Basketball that "reflects the Canadian style of play." The Raptors will support the program throughout Ontario.

"This investment in basketball development on a national level will ensure even more youth have access to age-appropriate instruction while fostering life skills and core values including teamwork and respect," Nash said in a statement.