The NBA household and the worldwide basketball neighborhood, together with the Worldwide Basketball Federation (FIBA), USA Basketball, the Nationwide Collegiate Athletic Affiliation (NCAA), the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame, the Nationwide Basketball Coaches Affiliation (NBCA) and the Nationwide Federation of State Excessive School Associations (NFHS), will rejoice the third annual World Basketball Day on Sunday, Dec. 21 by partaking a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of youth and followers within the U.S. and around the globe by clinics, social media campaigns, in-arena actions and extra.
Along side World Basketball Day and the 175th anniversary of the YMCA – the place Dr. James Naismith first launched the sport of basketball in 1891 – the NBA and YMCA are asserting an extension of their longstanding relationship by collaborating on year-long youth basketball and community-focused programming that can assist the YMCA and the 6 million youth it serves within the U.S. yearly.
The collaboration will even function renovations of some YMCA services throughout the nation.
In celebration of World Basketball Day, the NBA’s world and localized social and digital media channels, which attain a whole bunch of thousands and thousands of followers globally, will function sound bites from NBA gamers about what World Basketball Day means to them, together with highlights of World Basketball Day activations around the globe.
Moreover, in collaboration with native federations and companions, the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA and NBA Basketball School packages that attain tens of thousands and thousands of youth and coaches worldwide annually may have entry to a playbook with unique basketball coaching and training content material.
Established in 2023 by the United Nations, World Basketball Day is noticed yearly on Dec. 21, the date Dr. James Naismith first launched the sport of basketball on the YMCA in Springfield, Mass., in 1891, and celebrates cross-cultural unity by a shared ardour for the sport and the values it represents.
Right now, basketball is the fastest-growing sport on this planet and the No. 2 sport globally. NBA followers are inspired to take part by tagging @nba, @nbacares and @jrnba on social media utilizing the hashtag #WorldBasketballDay.
World Basketball Day will even function a “3-for-1 Day” in NBA All-Star Voting. On Dec. 21, followers with an NBA ID can submit one poll every day by way of the NBA App and NBA.com to have their vote depend 3 times.
Under are extra World Basketball Day celebrations within the U.S. and around the globe:
U.S.
Worldwide
Government, Coach and Participant Quotes:
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver:
“World Basketball Day takes on a particular which means this 12 months as we commemorate the 175th anniversary of the YMCA, the place the game was first invented 134 years in the past. We’re thrilled to affix our many mates within the basketball neighborhood to rejoice the sport’s affect and affect around the globe.”
President and CEO of YMCA of the USA Suzanne McCormick:
“The YMCA and the NBA share a long-standing perception within the energy of sport to construct neighborhood. As we rejoice the YMCA’s 175th anniversary, World Basketball Day provides a significant second to honor our historical past because the birthplace of basketball and to focus on its ongoing affect.
We’re honored to affix the NBA in celebrating a recreation that evokes connection, belonging, and private progress for thousands and thousands of younger individuals. This collaboration permits us to broaden our collective attain and be sure that the advantages of youth sports activities are felt in each neighborhood we serve.”
NBA champion and Boston Celtics ahead Jayson Tatum:
“World Basketball Day is an opportunity to rejoice the sport and affect it has on individuals all over the place. Basketball has had such a constructive affect on my life, and I hope I can go alongside the enjoyment and abilities I’ve realized, each on-and-off the courtroom, to the following era.”
WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert:
